LT COL Marvin ‘Marv’ Eugene Grant
 
Marvin Grant was born in Racine on October 21, 1916, to Jay and Dorothy (nee: Gleason) Grant and lived at 1433 Wisconsin Avenue. He attended St. Catherine's High school and played the cornet in the school band and was a member of the boxing team (128 lbs).
An early interest in flying led Marv to work his way to becoming an apprentice mechanic on a WWI vintage DH-4. Subsequently, it was also the first plane he soloed in at the age of 16. After graduating from St. Cat’s, he was employed by Ajax-Walker Manufacturing. In 1941, at 25, he joined the “Flying Elkats,” a group of young men that were sponsored by Racine Elk Lodge 252 that gave free flying lessons and prepared them for military aviation duties.
On January 29th, 1942, Marv, along with 18 other “Elkats” boarded the train in Milwaukee and headed to Kelly Field TX for in-processing into the United States Army Air Forces. After completing primary training that May, he was commissioned as an aviation cadet. He officially earned his wings on October 9th, 1942; graduating flight school at Moore Field, TX (Class 42-1, single-engine aircraft.)
He was then transferred to Westover Field, Massachusetts, for specialized training on the P-47D “Thunderbolt.” From there, he was assigned to the 5th Air Force’s - 348th Fighter Group, the 342nd Fighter Squadron; nicknamed the “Scourgers.” The group was originally assigned to the European Theater but reassigned to Australia. In August of 1943, the group relocated to Port Moresby, New Guinea to join the fight in the Pacific Theater.
In December 1943, Lt. Grant scored his first victory, taking down a Japanese B5N “Kate” torpedo bomber, which he intercepted while on aerial patrol. During the invasions of Arawe and Biak he was involved in a considerable amount of combat, racking up 5 more kills, and earned the title of “Ace” in June 1944. In total, he flew 187 combat missions.
In October of 1944, (then Captain) Grant, was appointed as an Operations Officer in the Philippines and in February 1945 he returned to the United States.
He served in the Air Force until 1962, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. As a civilian, he was a counselor with the Cherry Creek School District, in Denver, for 15 years. He retired for a second time in 1977, and moved to Corrales, New Mexico. He lived there until his death in 2000 at the age of 83.
His A-2 flight jacket is proudly displayed by The American Fighter Aces Association (AFAA) at The Museum of Flight in Seattle. He has been featured in many books regarding WW2 aviation. A scale model of his aircraft “Sylvia” was sold as a limited release item by Hasegawa in 2005, ironically a Japanese company.

List of military awards:
1.	The Silver Star 
2.	Distinguished Flying Cross (w/1 OLC)
3.	Purple Heart
4.	Air Medal (w/4 OLC’s)
5.	Army Commendation Medal (ACM)
6.	Presidential Unit Citation (DUC) 
a.	For Allied invasion of New Britain between 16 and 31 December 1943
7.	Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (w/5 service stars) (ACR)
8.	the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (EAME)
9.	WW2 Victory Medal (VMWWII)
10.	the Army of Occupation Medal (OCCMDL- JAP)
11.	National Defense Service Medal (NATDEFSM)
12.	Air and Space Longevity Service Award (w/4 OLC’s) (AFLSA)
13.	Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRESMDL)
14.	Philippine Liberation Medal (PLR)

His 7 Aerial Victories:
•	Dec.16, 1943 (1 B5N “Kate” Torpedo Bomber) Arawe
•	Dec. 26,1943 (1 A6M “Zero” Fighter,1 G4M “Betty” Bomber) SE Biak
•	May 27, 1944 (1 “Tony”) SE Biak
•	June 4, 1944 (2 A6M “Zero” Fighters) 40 miles east of Bosneck
•	June 12, 1944 (2 B5N “Kate” Torpedo Bombers) SE Biak

Aircraft:
P-47D-23 42-27886 “Sylvia” – all aerial victories in this aircraft
P-47D-4 42-22694 “Racine Belle”


Marvin Grant's A-2 Flight Jacket, Bronco Manufacturing Company.

Capt. Marvin Grant with P.47 D4.4222694 “Racine Belle”


Santa Fe National Cemetery

article about Marvin Grant being featured in book

MARVIN E GRANT

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