World War II Honoree

Edward Ratkovich

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Christine Andrews

Relationship

Daughter

MAJOR GENERAL. BEGAN HIS MILITARY CAREER IN DECEMBER 1942 WHEN HE ENTERED AVIATION CADET CANDIDATE TRAINING. HE ENTERED PILOT TRAINING IN AUGUST 1943 AND RECEIVED HIS PILOT WINGS AND COMMISSION AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT IN APRIL 1944. AFTER COMPLETING B-24 TRANSITION TRAINING IN DECEMBER 1944, HE WENT TO THE 15TH AIR FORCE IN ITALY AS A BOMBER PILOT AND FLEW A COMBAT TOUR IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH THE 780TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON. IN AUGUST 1945, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS SQUADRON ADJUTANT, SMYRNA ARMY AIR FIELD, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. HE RETURNED TO EUROPE IN FEBRUARY 1946 AS AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER WITH HEADQUARTERS U.S. AIR FORCES IN EUROPE, WIESBADEN, GERMANY. DURING 1947-1948 HE HELD SEVERAL KEY POSITIONS AT TULLIN AIR BASE, VIENNA, AUSTRIA; INCLUDING THAT OF LIAISON OFFICER WITH THE RUSSIAN OCCUPATION FORCES. HE ALSO FLEW ON THE FIRST MISSION OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT IN 1948 AND OVER 50 MISSIONS THEREAFTER IN C-47 AIRCRAFT UNTIL THIS FORCE WAS RELIEVED BY THE C-54 BUILDUP.