The Man Undernether the Engine
By Paul Reyes
Paul Edwin Boucher
6/12/1912 - 2/24/1991
Paul Edwin Boucher was born June 12, 1912, in Detroit, Michigan[1]. His parents were Alfred F. Boucher and Catherine Noel. Before his military service, he lived in Highland Park and Detroit, Michigan. Boucher's role in WWII was with the United States Navy. Boucher served as an Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class (AM1). This is a critical position within the aircraft crew. The Aviation Machinist’s Mate First Class was tasked with fixing and servicing the aircraft engine. Therefore, Boucher would have been the one responsible for ensuring that United States Navy aircraft were fit for use and prepared for air combat or aerial reconnaissance. This would have been an essential position, for without successful air superiority during World War II, it would not have been possible in the battles across the Pacific and Europe.
Boucher likely served at a Navy air station or on carriers while on active duty. He worked with units on patrols, bombing missions, and dogfights. As an aviation machinist, he had to guarantee that planes were up in the air, with occasional repairs, adjustments, and bullets flying. Boucher returned to life after the war and settled in Colorado. He died at the age of 78 on February 24, 1991, in Boulder, Colorado, and is buried in Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver.
Fort Logan National Cemetery is a military burial site for those who served their country with dignity and respect, were honorably discharged, and ultimately made the final sacrifice for the greater good. Beyond this, little else is known about Boucher, but he stands for all the men like him who served in the United States Navy during World War II. His service as an aviation machinist was a vital asset for almost any fight for freedom and far-away battles. Boucher kept America's air forces breathing and going.
Footnotes ↓
– [1] Information for this biogrpahy can be found at:
https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/2238/records/267361191?tid=&pid= https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/PAULEDWINBOUCHER/86B7494
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