30 November 1957 – Capt Benny Lacombe is killed when he unsuccessfully attempts to bail out of Lockheed U-2A, 56-6704, Article 371, 13 miles SE of Laughlin AFB. Ejection seats had not yet been fitted to U-2s at this point. The history of the U-2 program is fraught with fatalities and crashes. “CIA pilots Wilburn S.
Capt. Melvin R. Ellis began his tour of duty in Vietnam on June 15, 1966. He was an USAF fighter pilot with the 308th TAC Fighter Squadron. On his 95th mission his plane was shot down. He died in Kien Hoa Province, South Vietnam. He had served in the US Air Force for 14 years and was 39 years old.
At the time of his death he was married. His wife Alice and two daughters were living in Abilene, Texas.
Melvin Rupert Ellis is buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado. This is a National American Cemetery administered through the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Melvin is also honored on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 11e, Line 76.
