Michael A Titre, Maior USAF Retired
Of Arlington Heights

Funeral Mass for Michael A. Titre will be held 9:30 AM, Friday, August 31, 2007 at Our Lady of Wayside Church, 440 S. Mitchell St., Arlington Hts. Visitation will be from 3:00 until 9:00 PM, Thursday, August 30, 2007 at Glueckert Funeral Home Ltd. 1520 N. Arlington Hts. Rd. (four blocks south of Palatine Rd.), Arlington Heights.

Michael taught Physics and Physical Science in High School District 214 for eighteen years, beginning at Wheeling High School and retiring from Elk Grove High School in 1984.

His parents Caterina (nee Savio) Titre and Peter Titre preceded him in death. Born of Italian immigrant parents in Clinton, Indiana on October 23, 1923, he was raised in Lockport, Illinois graduating with honors from Lockport Twp HS in 1941. He passed away at his home on Monday, August 27, 2007.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force graduating from flight training as a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot and during WWII and was assigned to the 9th Air Force 405th Fighter Group. His military career as a fighter pilot included 58 combat missions over Germany. His decorations include the ETO ribbon with 5 battle stars, the Medal for Humane Action with three ribbons, the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

During the Berlin Airlift he was assigned to Templehof AFB in Berlin as the Chief Weather Forecaster responsible for all air lift operations in and out of Berlin. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster for that service. During the Korean War he was assigned as the Commander of the Weather Detachment Osan AFB Korea and served as Instrument Flight Instructor for the Korean Air Force. For his service to the Republic of Korea, Michael was awarded with a set of Korean Air Force pilot wings recognizing him as pilot in the Royal Korean Air Force.

Upon retirement from the USAF, Michael completed his teaching degrees and graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign. Michael began his teaching career in High School District #214 at Wheeling High School then transferring to Elk Grove High School. During his teaching career and into retirement he served on several community organizations in Arlington Heights.

He is survived by his brother Peter (Maxine) Titre of Arlington Heights, brother John (late Beatrice) of Colorado Springs, step-brother Conrad (Peggy) Gordon of Lockport, Illinois, numerous nieces and nephews living locally, out of town and out of state.

A private burial with full military honors will be held at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois.

Memorials to Memorial Squad, Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 27034 S. Diagonal Rd., Elwood, IL 60421, American Institute for Cancer Research, 1759 R. Street NW, PO Box 97167, Washington, DC 20090 or to Experimental Aircraft Assn. Aviation Center. P 0. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086. Information (847) 253-0168.