World War II Honoree

Howard R. Erkel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Aldrich, Minnesota

Honored By

Sue McVicker

Relationship

Daughter

PRIOR TO SERVICE, WAS AN AIRPLANE MECHANIC FOR LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA, FROM OCTOBER 1941 TO MARCH 1943. WAS AN AVIATION CADET FROM MARCH 13, 1943 TO JANUARY 6, 1944. SERVED AS A TRANSPORT PILOT, PACIFIC THEATER FROM JANUARY 7, 1944 TO JUNE 29, 1946. PILOTED C-46 AND C-47 AIRCRAFT FROM SAIPAN TO OTHER PACIFIC BASES, TRANSPORTING MAIL AND OTHER CARGOS, WOUNDED AND OTHER PERSONNEL FROM MAY 1945 TO MAY 1946. COMMANDED AIRCREWS AND SUPERVISED AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS, SERVICING AND FUNCTIONING. PROFICIENT IN THE USE OF RADIO AND NAVIGATIONAL AIDS, WEATHER INTERPRETATION AND METEOROLOGY.