ALLEN V. MUNDT, born Menominee, Michigan 19 October 22, raised in Marinette, Wisconsin. Student at University of Michigan when called for cadet training February, 1943. Graduated Class 44-C, Aloe AAF, Victoria, Texas. Flew P-40Ns at Aloe, P-47 s at Richmond, Virginia RTU, and gunnery at Dover, Delaware. Overseas via the Queen Mary, October, 1944. Replacement pools at Stone, England and Rothschild Chateau, Paris, France.

Joined 365th Fighter Group, 387th Squadron, 9th AF Chievre, Belgium 24 November 44. First mission on 14 December which was also the first time to carry two five hundred pound bombs and make a formation take-off in the P-47 . Scheduled for the second mission on the 16th which was the day the Battle of the Bulge began. Would have been a most notable mission except they decided finally to replace the "new boy" with an old head. That was after the briefing and a long, long very nervous standby. The fog was memorable.

Notable missions actually flown were: 1 January 45. Returning from the early mission received radio recall to base (Metz, France) which was under attack by about sixteen Me 109s. Arrived too late except to see remains of thirty-plus T-bolts and some 109s . . . 16 April 45. Our flight of four called in by controller to "buzz" Bernburg, Germany without firing. Needless-to-say it was a rapid buzz job. Then he told us to do it again. We were even more nervous that time. A last pass was made with instructions to fire into the river. A certain church steeple just missed the right wing tip and is well remembered. The local defenders then surrendered to our ground troops. . . May 45 Flying top cover for a flight strafing very large ammo dump consisting of many small buildings checker-boarded over the landscape. The second plane touched off a massive explosion. The smoke and shock wave were at our altitude (10,000 feet) very quickly. We were tossed about sharply. It was not a suitable target for strafing.

My aircraft was hit twice, 20mm on one mission and small arms on the other. The 20mm round knocked out the hydraulics to the flaps and brakes. . . The rugged character of the Jug was always impressive. In one case the pilot (Arlo C. Henry) flew home with two cylinders shot out and thought he "might" have an oil leak . . . Finished on VE Day with fifty-eight missions, one hundred thirty-five hours of combat and an Air Medal with five clusters. . . It was the experience of a lifetime.

Inactive duty October 45. Graduated from University of Michigan in forestry, June 47 recalled October 48. Variety of assignment in T-6 flight instruction (Randolph AFB Connally AFB; Marana AB) plus two year re-training WWII Japanese pilots in Japan Tour as instructor in AFROTC, another in the SAM squadron at Hamilton AFB flying VC-47 s, three years in the USAF Survival School, Stead AFB; then finished as the CAI liaison officer for the State of Nevada. Flew T-33s at Stead until retirement. Last flight was made with Colonel Hub Zemke. Retired as a major in 1966, earned master's degree and has been a faculty member at the University of Nevada-Reno since that time...

Married Lyn Hoffman in 1976. One daughter, Karla.