Henry E. Miehe

'Hink' was born 11 Feb 1916 in Englewood, NJ to German parents. His father emigrated from Germany in 1907 and his mother and older sister arrived five years later. As a child, he participated in a variety of sports including swimming, baseball, and track. Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, NJ opened its doors in 1933 and graduated its first class in June 1934 of which Hank was a member. During high school he was a three year letter winner in track. In 1940, his draft registration card had him working as a clerk at the A & P Grocery in Grantwood, NJ. He stood five feet five inches and weighed 130 pounds.

On 18 Oct 1940, Henry enlisted as a private with the Army Corps of Engineers and served with the coast artillery at Fort Du Pont, DE until April 1942, having attained the rank of sergeant. He received a transfer to the Air Corps and began pre-flight at Maxwell Field, AL in July 1942. Aviation Cadet Henry Miehe received his wings and commission as a 2nd Lt at Spence Field, GA in February 1943. He joined the 118th TRS soon thereafter and completed the east coast maneuvers and left for the CBI theater in January 1944.

For unknown reasons, his first mission in China wasn't until 24 July 1944, over one month after the squadron started flying. Most of the other original 118th pilots would complete their one hundred missions and rotate back home by September. In early November 1944, the Japanese were closing in fast on the 118th at Liuchow and an evacuation was ordered. For almost one week, the weather kept all flights grounded. Eventually the Japanese got too close and the 118th had to fly out despite the weather.

The overcast started at 1,000 feet and was solid to 13,000 feet. Petersen and Miehe took off at 1200 on 07 Nov 1944 as part of the evacuation of Liuchow. Petersen spun out and once he recovered he could not locate Miehe. Petersen tried to reach Miehe on the radio, but Petersen's transmitter was out. Miehe was not seen nor heard from again. He is listed as MIA/KIA.

Capt Burke, squadron historian, called Miehe one of the gamest little pilots the squadron ever had. He turned in some of the most spectacular feats of any pilot in the theater. Burke personally observed Hink's work and said that his courage, daring, and alertness were never surpassed. The 118th suffered a great loss when Miehe failed to return from Liuchow. Miehe's loss was especially hard for Henry Wilk. S/Sgt Wilk was Miehe's crew chief and 1st Lt Miehe was his pilot.

MACR 10093