Paul F. Heck
Paul F. Heck of Pennsauken, NJ.
Rank: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Serial Number: 0-419100
Unit: 3rd Squadron, 1st Ferry Group
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died:
Status: Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Memorial: Tablets of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines
First Lieutenant Paul F. Heck was born in Philadelphia, PA, in 1917, to Paul and Violet Heck. His father Eugene Heck, who had been born in Germany, worked as a clerk in a bakery in 1920; years later his occupation was listed as bookkeeper. The Heck family owned a home at 2435 Park Avenue in Philadelphia, near Clarion Street, and moved to New Jersey shortly after 1920. The family included sister Delphine and brothers Eugene and William. In 1930 the family was renting a home at 6129 Lincoln Avenue in Pennsauken, NJ; they later moved to 1716 Gross Avenue. Paul Heck was a 1935 graduate of Merchantville High School, where he played football and baseball, and was the editor of the school magazine. After high school, he joined the New Jersey National Guard, serving with the Headquarters Company of the 69th Field Artillery Brigade, 44th Infantry Division.
Paul Heck reported to Fort Dix, NJ, in September of 1940 when his National Guard unit was federalized. He qualified for flight duty and was trained as a navigator at Monroe, LA. He was commissioned in September of 1941 and went overseas with the Air Transport Command one year later. He volunteered for the air transport service, flying planes to Africa and other points. He served in West Africa, and later in India.
Paul Heck last wrote home on April 24, 1943. He wrote that he was “blue” and things were “pretty tough,” as five of his comrades had recently been killed.
First Lieutenant Paul Heck was reported missing on May 7, 1943. His body was never recovered. He was survived by his mother and brothers, both of whom were then serving in the Armed Forces.
Lieut. Paul F. Heck Missing In Action
Camden Courier-Post —
Pennsauken Man Navigator in Asia; 2 From So. Jersey Prisoners
Lieut. Paul F. Heck, 25, of 1716 Gross avenue, Pennsauken, navigator on a bomber serving in the Asiatic area, is reported missing in action since May 7, according to a telegram from the War Department to his mother, Mrs. Violet A. Heck.
Heck Former Guardsman
Lieutenant Heck was widely known in Pennsauken and in the National Guard, in which he served before his unit was federalized. Two brothers, Eugene H. and William E., are serving in the Navy, the former as a third class petty officer in Pennsauken, and the latter as a third class seaman at Houma air station, Louisiana.
Mrs. Violet A. Heck had received a letter from him dated April 24, which she received a week ago in May. He said things were “pretty tough” and that he was “blue” because five of his comrades had been killed.
Lieutenant Heck was graduated in 1935 from Merchantville High School where he played football and baseball and edited the school magazine. He served four enlistments in the National Guard with headquarters battery of the 69th Field Artillery Brigade, 44th Division. He was sent to Fort Dix when the guard was federalized in September, 1940 and was commissioned a year later.
He attended aviation school at Monroe, La., left for India last December and went overseas a short time later.
According to Mrs. Heck, Lieutenant Heck was based in India and volunteered for the air transport service, flying planes to Africa and other points.
Before leaving for active service he was employed by the Insurance Company of North America.