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SALUTE TO VETERANS
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2020
From Casablanca to Tunis for Merle Cheek
By JOB VIGIL jvigil@nptelegraph.com In the fall of 1941, Merle Cheek worked for his dad on the farm south of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He was 22 years old and had been clas- sified 1A, so he knew he was likely going to be called into military service. “I thought since I was clas- sified 1A I should enlist,” Cheek said. He was sworn in on Nov. 7, 1941, and was sent to Fort Bliss, Texas. The soldiers were given an aptitude test that determined wheth- er they would go to an Air Corps tech school. Cheek had a score of 99, which qual- ified him for the tech school. Cheek will turn 101 on Dec. 8. He lives at Maranatha Bible Camp with his wife, Stella. Stella has written down some of the steps in Merle’s journey into and through the military. “He went to Rantoul Tech School in Illinois where Merle had a 5½ months long text book course in airplane mechanics,” Stella wrote. “He took two more weeks of carburetor and ignition training that winter.” Following his training, Cheek left Brooklyn Pier in October or November Plane mechanic helped squadrons in North Africa
Job Vigil / The North Platte Telegraph When Merle Cheek first went to North Africa, this map shows the progression as the planes he repaired protected American convoys in the Mediterranean during World War II. Cheek’s company moved forward with each victory as the Allies defeated the Germans along the way.
invasion of North Africa happened when Merle began his stint in Morocco. “Then in February, they moved the air force oper- ations by train over to the Seneca air field, where they were from February to June of 1943,” George said. “His job in the Army Air Corps was mechanic and their spe- cialty was the P-39. Merle’s mission was to keep them flying as they were pro- tecting convoys in the Mediterranean.” Merle’s unit moved for- ward every few months as the Allies began to push the Germans back.
1942 for assignment to Casablanca, Morocco, in North Africa. “When we arrived at Casablanca, it still wasn’t safe for them to bring the ship into the harbor,” Cheek said. “So we circled for a couple of days.” He was assigned to the 34th Fighter Squadron of the 350th Fighter Group. His unit’s job was to repair the P-39 fighter planes who were engaging the Germans in North Africa and then later in Italy and over the Mediterranean. His son George explained the process as Cheek’s unit
In June 1943, they went by truck to Algeria (Algiers) and set up base again. From June to November of ’43 they were servicing the planes from there. “Then in November of ’43, they went by truck across to Tunis — Tunisia,” George said. “Then they jumped on a boat in Tunis and in November 1943 went across to the island of Sardinia.” At that time, the island was a part of Italy. “In Sardinia, they didn’t care for us,” Merle said. “The Germans were actually
moved along the African coast following the battles. “They were behind the lines with the Army Air Corps,” George said. “As this was pushed forward, they followed it.” On Nov. 8, 1942, the Allied Merle Cheek after he enlist- ed, left, and today at 101
Please see CHEEK, Page D9
Thank You,
Veterans
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