John Lee De Mille John Lee De Mille, 87, died April 6, 2009, in Chino. He was born Jan. 17, 1922, in Pomona. He was raised in Pomona and graduated from Pomona High School, Pomona Jr. College and Cal Poly Pomona. He was a career officer in the U.S. Air Force. He served in Europe during World War II and flew 68 missions in P-38 fighters. He also saw active duty in the Korean War and Vietnam War. He completed his active duty in Turkey. He was a winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1943, after graduation from flight school, he was threatened with court martial for flying his P-39, with his squadron, under the Golden Gate Bridge. He flew over Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, when allied forces stormed Normandy. He cruised the beach at low altitude to protect the troops on the ground below, an experience that left him feeling helpless because of the many men lost that day. In 1947, he married Frances Ruth Turner, whom he met in 1942 during his basic pilot training in Phoenix. He retired from the military in 1963 and he and Ruth moved to Chino. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years, earning distinction as a 33rd degree Mason. He was also a member of Scottish Rite in San Bernardino. He was a recipient in 1997 of the Hiram Award, given to Master Masons who have served their lodge and fraternity with devotion. He is survived by his sisters, Norine DeMille of Pomona and Ruth Johnson of San Dimas. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. today (April 11, 2009) at the Chino Masonic Lodge, 6050 Riverside Drive. Military honors and commitment will be held on Friday, April 17, at Riverside National Cemetery.
John Lee De Mille John Lee De Mille, 87, died April 6, 2009, in Chino. He was born Jan. 17, 1922, in Pomona. He was raised in Pomona and graduated from Pomona High School, Pomona Jr. College and Cal Poly Pomona. He was a career officer in the U.S. Air Force. He served in Europe during World War II and flew 68 missions in P-38 fighters. He also saw active duty in the Korean War and Vietnam War. He completed his active duty in Turkey. He was a winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1943, after graduation from flight school, he was threatened with court martial for flying his P-39, with his squadron, under the Golden Gate Bridge. He flew over Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, when allied forces stormed Normandy. He cruised the beach at low altitude to protect the troops on the ground below, an experience that left him feeling helpless because of the many men lost that day. In 1947, he married Frances Ruth Turner, whom he met in 1942 during his basic pilot training in Phoenix. He retired from the military in 1963 and he and Ruth moved to Chino. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years, earning distinction as a 33rd degree Mason. He was also a member of Scottish Rite in San Bernardino. He was a recipient in 1997 of the Hiram Award, given to Master Masons who have served their lodge and fraternity with devotion. He is survived by his sisters, Norine DeMille of Pomona and Ruth Johnson of San Dimas. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. today (April 11, 2009) at the Chino Masonic Lodge, 6050 Riverside Drive. Military honors and commitment will be held on Friday, April 17, at Riverside National Cemetery.
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