World War II Honoree

Melvin Christian Halstead

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Norfolk, Virginia

Honored By

Adelvia Halstead Nussloch

Relationship

Daughter

HE WAS A NAVIGATOR FOR THE 526TH BOMB SQUADRON, 379TH BOMB GROUP (HEAVY) , 8TH AIR FORCE. AFTER BEING HIT BY FLAK OVER THE TARGET ON THEIR FIFTH MISSION, SEPTEMBER 13, 1944 THE BOMBER DROPPED OUT OF FORMATION. HE PLOTTED A SOUTHERN ROUTE OVER OCCUPIED FRANCE BACK TO ENGLAND. AFTER A THIRD ENGINE WAS DAMAGED BY A GERMAN FIGHTER AND CONKED OUT, THEY CRASH LANDED IN A FARMER'S FIELD IN VERDUN, FRANCE, A MILE INTO U.S. HELD TERRITORY. HE ALWAYS SAID GENERAL PATTON SAVED HIM FROM BEING A PRISONER OF WAR. HE WAS MISSING IN ACTION AND WOUNDED IN ACTION AND LOST 4 CREW MATES IN THE CRASH. HE SPENT THREE MONTHS IN HOSPITAL RECOVERING AND RETURNED TO COMPLETE A TOTAL OF 35 MISSIONS.