Passed Away While Visiting England, Where He Had Served

Another of the Greatest Generation has Gone West ... in a way that could have been written for a movie.

Melvin Rector, 94, had been a B-17 radio operator during WWII, and he had always wanted to return to England where he had served.

Earlier this month, he did so, after planning the trip for several months prior. Rector, from Barefoot Bay in Brevard County, FL, arrived in London on May 6th. On the flight over, he was invited to the cockpit of the American Airlines jet he was aboard, according to a report from Florida Today. Susan Jowers, who had met Rector on an earlier Honor Flight and accompanied him the trip, said that a flight attendant approached them and said the captain would like to meet the veteran.

Rector had planned to visit his former RAF base in Norfolk, but went first to the Battle of Britain Bunker in the Uxbridge region of London on his first day there

As he walked out of the bunker ... "like his tour was done" according to Jowers ... he said he felt dizzy and took her arm. He died right there outside the bunker, she said.

A small service was planned in London, but when he learned Rector's story, the funeral director said he made an effort to make it special. Rector was given a funeral with full military honors, with the RAF, the British Army, the U.S. Air Force, and London historians all in attendance.

Rector had served in the 96th Bomb Group during the war. He was in uniform from 1943 to 1951, and had last been in England in 1945. He rose to the rank of Master Sergeant.

Florida Today reports that Rector's remains were repatriated to the U.S. on Tuesday.

(Image from file)

FMI: http://96bg.org