Darr H. Alkire
Darr Hayes Alkire | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 31, 1903 Fay, Nevada[1] |
| Died | July 22, 1977 (aged 73) Scottsboro, Alabama |
| Place of Burial | National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu [2] |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force |
| Years of service | March 10, 1924-October 31, 1956[1] |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands | 1937: 96th Bomb Squadron 1942: Second Bombardment Group 1942: 100th Bombardment Group 1943: 449th Bombardment Group 1954: Newark Transportation Control Depot 1954: 3101st Logistics Control Group[1] |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Air Force DSM, Silver Star |
| Relations | 1927-8 marriage: Ruth Eleanor McKee (divorce), son Michael E Alkire (1927) 1930 marriage:[3] Alma Tate Robinson,[4] daughters Darrilyn Ann Alkire (1932) & Jacqueline Hayes Alkire (1934) |
Brigadier General Darr Hayes Alkire was a pilot of the United States Army Air Corps in 1932,[5] the United States Army Air Forces (1941), and the United States Air Force (1947); and was the first commander of the World War II 100th Bombardment Group.[1] After his 19th B-24 Liberator mission,[6]: 23 when the Lurchin Urchin[7] (41-29223)[8] crashed near Cervia,[9] he was a POW commander until April 4, 1945; then marched to Stalag Luft III where on April 27 he was the West Compound commander until liberated.[10]
Alkire crashed Douglas BT-2C #31-445 at Yorktown, Texas, on April 11, 1932,[11] and was piloting the "Maui Maid" (41-28623, named for his 2nd wife) which was the first 449th Bombardment Group B-24 to land in Italy [1] (at Grottaglie Airfield). The Maui Maid was scrapped for parts after a different crew struck an embankment.[12] In 1958, Alkire appeared on television in 1958 regarding the "Rocket Age."[13]
USAAF film of Lurchin Urchin
The United States Air Force filmed the Lurchin Urchin B-24 Liberator on the mission in which Colonel Alkire was shot down.[14]
References and notes
- ^ a b c d US Air Force Military Biographies, Annual. 2004. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3768119 Find A Grave]
- ^ Article
- ^ Article
- ^ Accident Report
- ^ Article
- ^ Military Standard
- ^ United States Army Air Forces
- ^ Book
- ^ Article
- ^ Article
- ^ Article
- ^ Article
- ^ "Movie for the crew of the B24 bomber piloted by Col. Darr H. Alkire, January 31, 1944 crashed off the coast of Cervia" (GuitarSolos.com video). (also Video on YouTube)
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force