- Date Of Birth: July 8, 1920
- Date Of Death: February 19, 2020
- State: Michigan
Captain Melvin P. Dawson, age 99, passed away at home surrounded by his family on Wednesday, February 19, 2020. He was born in July of 1920 in Kalamazoo to Thomas and Nell (Smith) Dawson. After completing two years at Western Michigan College, Melvin enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp.
After completing his training as a fighter pilot, he boarded the Queen Mary with 15,000 others ready for battle in WWII and zig-zagged across the Atlantic to avoid being targeted by the enemy to England, where he and his 353rd Fighter Group were stationed. His P-47 Thunderbolt was the only fighter plane at that time named Kalamazoo Gal after his soon-to-be wife, Betty, whom he married in March of 1943. He flew 65 missions and had 115 confirmed sorties. His squadron led the initial daytime attack on Berlin.
After his tour of duty, he trained incoming pilots in England and later in Lake Charles, Louisiana. After completing training duties, he served as a Standby Reservist in the U.S. Air Force until he retired. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and the EAME ribbon, among others. He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Betty J. (Mason) Dawson. He is survived by his daughter, Diane Roberts; grandsons Lew, Mark (Kelly), John (Holly) and granddaughter Dawn Roberts, and 8 great-grandchildren. The family wishes to thank Hospice of Southwest Michigan, Langeland’s Portage Chapel, Pastor Greg Carlson, and Rick at Mt. Ever-Rest.
