Posted by Paul Arnett, 492ndBombGroup.com Historian
Folded Wings - Ernie Gavitt
With much sadness I learned Ernie Gavitt passed away on Monday, 27 October 2008. He died peacefully around 8 AM at his home in Wakefield, Rhode Island. Ernie was the navigator on my father's crew (Arnett Crew 717). During the war he earned the Purple Heart and was a POW at Stalag Luft III.
Every 4th of July the town of Wakefield has a parade which happens to pass right in front of Ernie's house. For decades, Ernie watched the annual parade from his front porch and had cold refreshments for the firemen leading the parade. This year as the parade got to his house they saw the porch was vacant. No Ernie. The parade came to a halt as one of the firemen went to the door to find out why he wasn't out there. Ernie's wife, Arlene, explained to them that Ernie was in poor health and confined to bed. In single file all of the firemen went into Ernie's bedroom, shook his hand and wished him a speedy recovery. Then they went back to the street and restarted the parade.
I think this story indicates just what kind of man Ernie was and how much he meant to his community. I think it also says a lot for the firemen and the whole town.
At this time, I do not have any funeral details.
Paul
Arnett
6
Wednesday, the 9th of July, 2008
Posted by Paul Arnett, 492ndBombGroup.com Historian
/8th Air Force
