World War II Veteran Honored

Adrian Marlin, back row, center, poses with his aircrew in a photo taken during World War II. Marlin served as a tail gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress during the war. He and his aircrew survived a crash landing in 1944. Marlin was recognized and honored for his service by the Air Force Reserve 931st Air Refueling Group, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., during the unit's annual award banquet, Feb. 9, 2013. (Courtesy photo)

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Brig. Gen. Kenneth D Lewis, currently Deputy Director for Partnership Strategy/Trans-Regional Policy (DDPS/TRP) on the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., and Col. Mark S. Larson, commander of the 931st Air Refueling Group, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., present Adrian Marlin with a trophy as a token of appreciation for Marlin's service in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Feb. 9, 2013. Marlin served as a tail gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress during the war. He and his aircrew survived a crash landing in 1944. Marlin was Larson's guest of honor at the banquet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Brannen Parrish)

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Independence Day Parade

Col. Mark S. Larson, commander of the Air Force Reserve 931st Air Refueling Group, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., drives his restored WWII-era Jeep in the Derby, Kan., Independence Day Parade, July 4, 2013. Larson was accompanied in the jeep by his children as well as Sgt. (ret) Adrian Marlin, a WWII Veteran who served as a B-17 tail gunner and completed 35 combat missions during the war. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Zach Anderson)

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931st mourns loss of World War II Veteran, patriot, friend

Published April 30, 2015
By 931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- The 931st Air Refueling Group mourns the loss of a true patriot and friend, Mr. Adrian Marlin, who passed away earlier this week.

Marlin enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943 and served as a tail gunner on a B-17 flying fortress during the Allied offensive over Germany in World War II. In all, Marlin completed 35 combat missions, including surviving his aircraft being shot down and crash landing in Belgium in 1944.

In 2013, Marlin served as the guest of honor at the 931st Air Refueling Group Annual Awards Banquet, where his story was shared with the audience and he was recognized for his service and sacrifice.

Adrian Marlin was a part of Air Force heritage; a hero, a patriot, and a true friend of the 931st Air Refueling Group. He left an indelible mark on the unit and he will be missed.

Here is a link to the story of Mr. Marlin's service in WWII, originally published in 2013:

http://www.afrc.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/136/Article/156411/mcconnell-reserve-unit-honors-world-war-ii-veteran-air-force-heritage.aspx

World War II Veteran Honored

Independence Day Parade