Savage, Mark A. Jr.

Description

Mark Anthony Savage was born on May 26, 1922, in Port Chester, New York, to Margaret J Mc Adams, age 24, and Mark Savage, age 25. He had six brothers and two sisters.

In Rye his family lived at 59 Florence Avenue and were members of the Church of the Resurrection. Mark attended Harrison High School and was a graduate of Kent State University.

He enlisted and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Mark served as a fighter pilot during World War II.

He served in the AAF as a pilot for 41/2 years seeing action with the 27th Fighter Dive Bomb Group in the European and African Theatres.

In June 1943 the group resumed operations, and took part in the campaign against the Italian islands of Pantelleria and Lampedusa, a massive aerial assault that forced the islands to surrender.

In the week before the invasion of Sicily (3-10 July 1943) the 27th attacked Axis supply centres in the south and centre of Sicily.

In August 1943 the group was redesignated as the 27th Fighter-Bomber Group.

In September it was used to cover the landings at Salerno (Operation Avalanche), which began on 9 September 1943. On 10 September the group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its part in preventing three armored divisions from reaching the beachhead.

Mark was awarded the Air Medal for completion of 30 missions over Italy.

After the war, he married Ruth Wright in 1947 while both were attending Kent State.

Mark continued his love for aviation and made it his career. He was a corporation pilot, which included being a pilot for Hadler Realty.

Mark was an author and publisher and was a member of the P-51 Mustang Pilots Association, the Air Force Association and Experimental Aircraft Association.

He also served as State of Ohio Governor of the Soaring Society of America. While employed by the Ohio Department of Aviation, he was instrumental in establishing many county airports.

Mark Anthony “Doc” Savage died on May 4, 1997, in Marion, Ohio, when he was 74 years old from injuries sustained in an aviation accident in Marion.

He was survived by his wife, Ruth; four sons, Randy (Beth), Delaware, Rick (Laumpoon), Omaha, Neb., Russ, Columbus, and Rod (Laura), Dublin; a daughter, Peggy Lou Savage, Columbus; four brothers; two sisters; and six grandchildren.

A remembrance service was held at the Med Flight Hanger at Don Scott Field, followed by a time of food and fellowship.

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