Melvin Walter Demmin

Military

Object Number - UPL 16645 - Crew #738 Roy E. Guy Crew 466th BG - 787th BS Standing Left to Right: Patrick Homentowski (TG), Melvin Demmin (R/O), Burl S. Garrett (FE),...

Immediately after high school, Demmin entered the USAAF. He survived 14 missions and the long march to Germany from his POW camp in Poland. After the war, he completed college in Peoria, IL and then worked as an engineer at Caterpillar for 35 years. While in college he married Barbara McKellip, and they had five daughters. He also learned to fly and was an instructor at a flying club in Peoria for several decades.

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O 817834
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Peoria, IL, USA 3 December 1924

Enlisted

Peoria, IL, USA 14 April 1943

Other

Shot Down/Captured

Wittingen, Germany 8 September 1944

Died

Farmington, IL, USA 7 November 2017
Peoria, IL, USA

Other

POW

Tychowo, Poland

Revisions

Date20 May 2018 23:24:38
ContributorKWK
ChangesChanges to biography
Date20 May 2018 23:01:09
ContributorKWK
ChangesChanges to middlename and events
Date22 Jul 2017 22:13:20
ContributorKWK
ChangesChanges to nickname
Sources

I met with Mel recently and asked if he had a nickname during his time in the service; he replied he didn't. I'll try to get him to provide a brief biography when I next see him early Sept. 2017. KWK

Date3 Jul 2015 23:40:41
Contributor466thHistorian
ChangesCreated entry with surname, middlename, firstname, nationality, service number, highest rank, role, events, person associations, unit associations, place associations and media associations
Sources

466th BG Historian

Melvin Walter Demmin: Gallery (2 items)