World War II Honoree

Melvin Leroy Beyer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Amarillo, Texas

Honored By

Melody Smith

Relationship

Daughter

PART OF THE 442ND BOMB GROUP OF THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS. RANKING OFFICER AND PILOT OF THE B-24 AIRCRAFT CALLED 'HAPPY GO-LUCKY'. FLEW 28 COMBAT MISSIONS ALONG THE EUROPEAN FRONT, INCLUDING THE FIRST AMERICAN MISSION TO BOMB BERLIN, THE MOST HEAVILY DEFENDED CITY OF THE CONTINENT. RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND IN THE SAME YEAR, A CLUSTER. HAD 851 HOURS FLYING TIME, OF WHICH 222 WERE COMBAT HOURS, WITH 28 BOMBING MISSIONS COMPLETED BY MAY OF 1944. THE REMAINDER OF THE WAR, HE WAS A 1ST LIEUTENANT INSTRUCTOR TO NEW PILOTS ON THE B-29 BOMBERS.