Harry Houghton Melcher
Military
Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Front L-R: Fitzgerald-Navigator, Stevens-Co-Pilot, Ken Johnson Pilot
Back L-R: Basitte-Waist Gunner, Kowalski-Flight Engineer, Robert Stevens-Tail Gunner, James Stump-Radio Operator, Albert Smiley-Ball Turret, Harry Melcher-Bomb Armourer. November-1944, 447 Bomb Group, 710 Squadron, Rattlesden, England.
Image courtesy of Harry H Melcher
Object Number - UPL 6743 - A bomber crew of the 447th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Front L-R: Fitzgerald-Navigator, Stevens-Co-Pilot, Ken Johnson...
Assigned to 710BS, 447BG, 8AF USAAF. Crashed at Frankfurt on 8-Jan-45 in B-17 43-37938 'Little Rock Blonde' Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 11582
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-746357
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little Rock Blonde
- Unit: 447th Bomb Group 710th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Bingham, Maine, USA | 11 August 1922 | Son of Edmund and Louise [Durgin] Melcher. |
|
Enlisted |
Bangor, ME | 2 February 1943 | Bangor, Maine |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Tychowo, Poland | 8 January 1945 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft IV. |
|
Died |
Skowhegan, ME | 19 January 2020 | BINGHAM – Harry Houghton Melcher, 94, passed away Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 at the Redington Fairview Hospital in Skowhegan. He was born in Bingham on August 11, 1925, a son of Edmund and Louise (Durgin) Melcher. He married Jeanette (Farrar) on April 26, 1948. Harry attended Bingham schools and graduated from Gould Academy in 1943. After graduation, Harry enlisted in the Army Air-force. He flew bombing missions out of England and was shot down over Germany in January, 1945. He was a POW until April 1945. Harry was a self employed logger most of his life. From 1950 until 1961 he was in charge of company operations for SD Warren Company in the Bridgeton area. He then moved back to Bingham in 1961 and continued in the logging business until 1977 when he started Harry H. Melcher and Sons with Michael and Daniel. He retired in 1995. Harry was predeceased by his parents; wife Jeanette; son Michael; and brother William Melcher. Surviving him are two sons, and a daughter-in-law. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren; as well as eight great-grandchildren. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to caregivers, VA Nurse for their special care given to Harry. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2020 in Bingham Village Cemetery at 11 a.m. |
|
Buried |
Bingham Village Cemetery Bingham, Somerset County, ME | 23 January 2020 | Bingham Village Cemetery Bingham, Somerset County, Maine |
|
Based |
Rattlesden | 8 January 1945 | Assigned to 710BS, 447BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 11582 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Unit History Roster, Enlisted Men of the 710th Squadron MACR 11582
