Ray Melikian

Ray Melikian (June 7, 1918 – October 25, 2013)[1][2] was a fighter pilot of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II where he achieved the rank of major.[3][4] Melikian flew 228 missions during the war and was known for having "superkeen" eyesight.[5][6]

Ray Melikian

Life

Of Armenian descent, Ray Melikian was born in Fresno, California in 1918.[7] He attended school at Kerman High School.[8] He joined the military where he completed his training in August 1941. After completion of his training, Melikian was sent to Australia then New Guinea. He is a farmer by profession.[9]

World War II

When World War II commenced, Ray Melikian was assigned to the 7th Fighter Squadron of the United States Army Air Forces.[4] Melikian was assigned to fly many aircraft including Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.[4] The aircraft would eventually have three markings of victory.[4]

On August 23, 1942 Melikian took off from Darwin, Australia on a mission to intercept Japanese aircraft and eventually shot down a Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero.[4]

On March 5, 1943, while flying over the skies of New Guinea, Melikian managed to shoot down a Ki-43 Oscar over Malahang in the Morobe Province.[4]

Melikian allowed a friend to borrow his plane in order to conduct a mission.[10] The plane was never returned.[9]

In 1969 the wreckage of the plane was discovered in a jungle in New Guinea with skeletal remains in it.[9][10] The plane still contained Melikian's signature on the side of it.[9]

In his career as an Air Forces pilot, Melikian went on 228 missions and shot down a total of three Japanese fighter aircraft.[3][9]

Medals

His decorations include:[3]

Army Air Forces Pilot Badge
 Silver Star with two bronze oak leaf clusters[11]
 Distinguished Flying Cross with two bronze oak leaf clusters
 Air Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal
 American Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
American Campaign Medal
 Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars
World War II Victory Medal

Awards

In 1942 Ray Melikian was named Fresno's most outstanding man of the year.[12]

Legacy

Ray Melikian's plane was found in a junkyard in Australia in 1974.[9][10] The plane was badly damaged and was in many parts.[9]

The plane was sold twice until it was purchased off eBay and then restored by Chris Prevost, owner of Vintage Aircraft Co., who bought and machined many of the parts needed for its restoration.[9] The parts needed for restoration cost approximately $600,000 which included a fuselage that cost $151,000.[9] In 2009 the aircraft was completed and on March 14, 2009, Ray Melikian flew the plane with Chris Provost at the Vintage Airport in Sonoma, CA. Ray Melikian was 90 years old at the time of the flight.[9] The restored aircraft included Melikian's name and victories on the left side of the cockpit.[4]

A portion of one of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft Ray Melikian flew during World War II is also displayed at the Museum of Charters Towers.[4]

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References
  1. Melikian, Ray. "Ray Melikian". Salser & Dillard. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  2. "California, Birth Index, 1905-199". FamilySearch. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  3. Bulbulian, Berge (2000). The Fresno Armenians : history of a diaspora community. Fresno, CA: Press at California State University, Fresno. p. 198. ISBN 9780912201351.
  4. "Ray Melikian - P-40 Warhawk, 49th Fighter Group". Pacific Wrecks. March 18, 2010. Archived from the original on 29 September 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  5. Armenian General Benevolent Union (1951). Armenian-American veterans of World War II. Published and compiled by "Our Boys" Committee. p. 130. Retrieved 8 March 2013. Ray Melikian of Fresno, California. Melikian had the almost unbelievable record of 228 combat missions during which he downed three Jap zeros
  6. Astor, Gerald (2009). The Greatest War - Volume II: D-Day and the Assault on Europe (1st eBook ed.). New York, NY: Warner Books: Hachette Group. ISBN 9780446565776.
  7. "Armenians of World War II". 38. Armenian General Benevolent Union. 1997: 64. Ray Melikian, a fighter pilot , born in West Fresno in 1918. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. Tashjian, James H. (1952). "The Armenian American in World War II". Hairenik. Harenik Assoc.: 25–28. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  9. Griswold, Lewis (Mar 21, 2009). "90-year-old vet takes his WWII plane up for fly". Fresno Bee. A fellow pilot borrowed his plane for a mission and never returned. In 1969, it was found in the jungles of New Guinea with a skeleton in it. The name Melikian was still visible on the side of the plane.
  10. "WWII Vet Gets An Unexpected Message". Aero News Network. Jun 2, 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  11. "Fresno Pilot In Pacific War Wins Third Decoration". The Fresno Bee. 14 November 1942. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  12. Adamic, Louis, ed. (1943). "Fresno Heroes". Common Ground. Common Council for American Unity. 4: 105.
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