LtCol Melvin E. Locke, USMC Ret.

The F4U Corsair

About Our Speaker for the November Meeting

Melvin E. Locke enlisted in the service on August 28, 1942, training at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.  He went on to further training, learning to fly the Douglas dive bomber and the Curtis "Helldiver."  In 1945, with squadron, VMTB-623, he flew the torpedo bomber "Avenger."  Later he was assigned to Hawaii, where he trained for night flights and carrier landings.

After the atomic bomb was dropped, Locke was deployed to Japan during the occupation to fly over munitions plants daily and make sure there was no activity.  In July 1946, Lt. Locke was discharged from active duty and transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve.  

In May 1952, he was recalled to active duty for the Korean Conflict.  He flew the F4UCorsair in close air support missions against North Korean positions, and targets of opportunity, such as truck convoys, bridges, and gun emplacements for a total of 90 missions.  Afterwards he was assigned to escort 26 POWs home from Korea and interview them about their experiences en route to San Francisco. After his service in Korea, the military sent him to become a flight school instructor in Pensacola, Florida.  

Lieutenant Colonel Locke retired from the Marine Corps in 1963, earning such decorations as the Distinguished Flying Cross for "heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight"and nine air medals.  He has lived in Hacienda Heights for over 40 years and served as the first principal of La Serna High School in Whittier for over two decades.  He is currently is active in the Association of Naval Aviation serving as the executive officer of the Grampaw Pettibone Squadron.