Locke

Jan15, 1941- enlisted at Fort Sill, OK; basic training (infantry) at Camp Barkley
Nov 1941- Jan 1942 Radio school at Ft Banning, GA
March 1942- Joined Air Corp as cadet
Kelley Field, San Antonio, TX- Al was classified to become a pilot
Nov 13, 1942- January 12, 1943 Flight training at Cimarron Air Field, Yukon, OK
Jan 20, 1943- March 17, 1943 Flight training at Enid Flying School, Enid, OK
Al met Patsy Kraft in late February or early March 1943 at Trinity Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, OK through a friend of Patsy's.
March 24, 1943- May 2, 1943 Flight training at Pampa Army Air Field, Pampa, TX
May 23, 1943 earned his wings and was appointed 2nd Lt. May 24
Further flight training at Randolph AFB, TX Tarrant Field for 4-engine training
June 5, 1943- Al and Patsy were married at College Avenue Baptist Church in Ft. Worth, TX
July 16, 1943- appointed a flight instructor at Liberal, KS
Aug 22, 1943- assigned to 715th BS, 448th BG at Wendover, UT
bombing practice at Mountain Home AFB, Boise, ID
Nov 11, 1943- the crew received orders to England
Dec 11, 1943- arrived Seething, East Anglia home of the 448th BG
Jan 31, 1944- promoted to 1st Lt. Jan 31, 1944
Feb 20, 1944- transferred to 814th BS/ 482nd BG for Pathfinders school, Alconbury
March 21, 1944 transferred to 564th BS/ 389th BG
April 1, 1944- flew first mission as Pathfinder crew
April 29, 1944- mission to Berlin- had to ditch plane in the English Channel due to loss of fuel- five crew members are killed. Al was rescued at sea after about 1 hr in the water; he used an oxygen bottle as a flotation device as his life vest was ripped.
May 10, 1944 recovery at Moulsford Manor and taken off of combat duty
Aug 3, 1944 returns to US
Aug 14, 1944 receives the Distinguished Flying Cross for the April 29, 1944 mission.
Click here to read the award citation.
Sept 2, 1944 rest leave in Miami, FL
Oct 1944- 2 weeks R&R in Wisconsin, returned to Miami to receive next assignment
Nov 16, 1944- instructor at Harlingen, TX
Feb 7, 1945- Instructor at Smyrna, TN in 4 engine planes
May 19, 1945- given clearance to fly combat missions again
Aug 30, 1945- discharged from Camp Chaffee, AK
Sept 20, 1945- joined Officer Reserve Corps
Dec 30, 1952- assigned Robins AFB, GA for reserve duty

Alfred Hamilton Locke died November 25, 1972 of a brain aneurysm in Oklahoma City, OK.

   As my Grandfather died when I was not quite 2 years old, I never had the privilege of knowing the man that he was. When my parents asked me to help put together a scrapbook of his war years this summer, I had no idea the project would have such a huge impact on my life. Reading his letters and learning about the things he accomplished during his military service has allowed me to come to know him in some small way.
    Finding Dale on the internet B-24 lists was a large blessing as well. He has shared his life, both past and present, with me and has come to mean a great deal to me. I am grateful that he is still on this earth and that he is willing to talk with me and others about the war years and his memories of my Grandfather. I am proud to call him my adopted Grandfather- and I am sure that Grandad would approve!
     -Melinda Staley