World War II Honoree

Melvin L. Henry

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Peru, Indiana

Honored By

Karen Sue Henry-Gary

Relationship

Daughter

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY RESERVE AT GREEN CASTLE, INDIANA. AFTER COMPLETION OF AVIATION CADET TRAINING WAS COMMISSIONED ENSIGN-NAVAL AVIATOR (HEAVIER-THAN-AIR). REPORTED TO ACTIVE DUTY AT NAVAL AIR TRAINING CENTER, CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, FOR COMPLETION OF TRAINING FOR STUDENT NAVAL AVIATION. ASSIGNED TEMPORARY DUTY TO DELAND NAVAL AIR STATION, FLORIDA, FOR OPERATIONAL TRAINING AS A MEMBER OF CREW NO.8, CLASS 103. AFTER RECEIVING CARRIER QUALIFICATION TRAINING AT NAVAL AIR STATION, GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS, REPORTED TO AIR FORCE-PACIFIC FLEET, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, WITH ASSIGNMENT TO FIGHTING SQUADRON VF-100. ASSIGNED TEMPORARY DUTY IN SURVIVAL CHECKOUT, CARRIER AIRCRAFT SERVICE UNIT NO.2; THEN DUTY WITH FIGHTER SQUADRON VF-95, PACIFIC FLEET, AIR DEFENSE-SAIPAN, AS REPLACEMENT PILOT FLYING GRUMMAN F6F 'WILDCAT' AIRCRAFT. RETURNED AND REASSIGNED TO NIGHT FIGHTING SQUADRON VF-N-55, U.S. ATLANTIC FLEET, NEW YORK. RELEASED AT WAR'S END FROM ACTIVE DUTY TO ORGANIZED NAVAL RESERVE AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING STATION, ILLINOIS. REMAINED IN THE VOLUNTEER RESERVE, AVIATION UNIT 9-32, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.