World War II Honoree

Marvin W. Heath

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Rochelle, Illinois

Honored By

Megan Cate

Relationship

Daughter

DRAFTED APRIL 1941; COMPLETED FLIGHT TRAINING MAY 1942 AND COMMISSIONED AS 2ND LT. TRANSFERRED TO 434TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP IN JUNE 1943 AS ASSISTANT GROUP OPERATIONS OFFICER. CARRIED OUT PARACHUTE AND GLIDER EXERCISES WITH THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION. ASSISTED WITH DEVELOPING THE PLAN USED FOR MARSHALLING PLANES AND GLIDERS FOR TAKE OFF. DRAFTED THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR ALL THESE FUNCTIONS AND ALL COMBAT MISSION GROUP OPERATIONS ORDERS. D-DAY: AFTER FUNCTIONING AS AN OPERATIONS OFFICER FOR THE FIRST TWO FLIGHTS ON D-DAY, WAS A PILOT IN THE THIRD FLIGHT OF C-47S TOWING AMERICAN GLIDERS. PILOTED THE THIRD AIRPLANE IN THE FORMATION, LED THE GROUP THAT BROKE OFF FROM THE MAIN FORMATION AND SUCCESSFULLY RELEASED HIS GLIDER. FLEW SUPPLIES INTO THE D-DAY BEACHHEADS AND TOOK OUT THE WOUNDED, LANDING ON AN AIRSTRIP MADE OF PIERCED STEEL PLANKING. ST, LO: FLEW IN FIVE GALLON 'JERRY CANS' OF FUEL AND OTHER SUPPLIES FOR PATTON'S ARMY; CONTINUED EVACUATING WOUNDED. MARKET GARDEN: FLEW SUCCESSFUL PARACHUTE AND GLIDER DROPS WITH THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION; DROPPED A COMPLETE PARACHUTE ARTILLERY REGIMENT INCLUDING 75 MM HOWITZERS. RETURNED TO BASE WITH 36 BULLET HOLES IN THE AIRPLANE. SPECIAL MISSION: FLEW A SINGLE AIRPLANE IN A MISSION TO DROP BRITISH AGENTS INTO YUGOSLAVIA TO ASSIST TITO'S GUERRILLAS. FRANCE: FLEW A RESUPPLY MISSION DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE; FLEW A VARIETY OF RESUPPLY MISSIONS OUT OF FRANCE AFTER THE JUMP ACROSS THE RHINE WAS ACCOMPLISHED. GERMANY: AS THE U.S. ARMY PUSHED INTO GERMANY MANY POW CAMPS WERE LIBERATED AND THE PRISONERS FOUND THE FIELDS THE C-47S WERE FLYING INTO; AFTER DELIVERING SUPPLIES FLEW OUT AS MANY OF THEM AS COULD SAFELY BE TAKEN ON BOARD. ENDED WWII SERVICE WITH A RANK OF LT. COLONEL.