Individual Details

Manuel says that when he was at Catholic Church one day he needed a middle name for his confirmation so he picked Richard. He never had a middle name before that. From then on he was known as Manuel Richard Diaz. His birth record has his name as Manuel Diaz Alvarez.
He enlisted on 1/1942 in the Army Air Force with his brothers Joe and Louie. He was with the 2538th Army Air Force. He was in Italy, Sicily, Burma, China, North Africa. He was a Sgt. and crew chief on the P40 Fighter Planes. Then his crew was sent to China and he was with the P51's (newer planes). Then they went to India and Australia. From Australia they went by boat back to California, which took about 30 days. He received 8 Battle Stars. He was separated at Fort George G. Meade, Md. on Sept. 27, 1945.
After Dad and Mom were married in Wisconsin they came back to his home town of Luke, Md. to make their home. While on the way back they stopped in Chicago for their honeymoon and Mom some how contracted meningitis. She recovered.


Activated in 1940 at Mitchell Field, New York as the 60th Pursuit Squadron, the unit was attached to the 33d Pursuit Group on January 15, 1941. Re-designated as the 60th Fighter Squadron "Fighting Crows" on May 15, 1942, the unit was responsible for the continual mission of air defense of the United States until October 1942. In late 1942, the 60th joined the United States effort in World War II by participating in combat operations in the Mediterranean Theater and the China, Burma, India Theater. As a result of superior performance in central Tunisia, the 60th earned the Distinguished Unit Citation for combat operations on January 15, 1944.

Following its service in World War II, the 60th was assigned to the 33d Fighter Group at Neubiberg, Germany in August 1946 and flew the P-51 Mustang. In 1947, the 60th transferred to Roswell, New Mexico and soon afterward, in June 1948, converted to the F-84 Thunderjet. In November 1948, the 60th transferred to Otis Air Force Base (AFB), Massachusetts and by June of the following year had completed a conversion to the new F-86 Sabre. On August 9, 1950, the 60th moved to Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts and on January 1, 1951 became part of the Air Defense Command. From 1952-1959, the 60th, flying the F-86 Sabre and the F-94 Starfire was assigned to various organizations including, the 4707th Defense Wing, 4735th Air Defense Group and the Boston Air Defense Sector all located at Otis AFB. On January 5, 1959, the 60th was the first Air Defense squadron to receive the new F-101 Voodoo aircraft. The unit was additionally tasked as part of the joint test force (teamed with members at Eglin AFB, FL) to test the F-101’s operational capabilities prior to its entrance into active service.

During the 1960s the 60th participated in various tests, exercises and operations in the Air Defense Command. In October and November of 1962, the unit was placed on alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but was never deployed. The 60th deactivated on April 30, 1971 and in September of the same year was reactivated at Eglin, AFB, Florida as the 60th Tactical Fighter Squadron. In 1979 the unit participated in the "Kadena Ready Eagle" program in which the members of the 60th trained new F-15 pilots stationed at Kadena AB, Japan.

The 60th made its first combat deployment since World War II when it sent ten F-15s to Grenada in support of Operation Urgent Fury, the rescue of American medical students held in Grenada in the mid 1980s. The unit continued to train and hone its combat fighting skills until it was called upon to fly support missions for Operation Just Cause (the removal of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega from Panama in the early 1990s).

Currently the 60th Fighter Squadron operates the F-15 Eagle and continues to support various theater Commander-in-Chiefs by providing air superiority by all who call upon its service.

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record
Name: Manuel R Diaz
Birth Year: 1920
Race: White, citizen
Nativity State or Country: Maryland
State: Maryland
County or City: Allegany

Enlistment Date: 6 Jan 1942
Enlistment State: District of Columbia
Enlistment City: Washington
Branch: Air Corps
Branch Code: Air Corps
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Army of the United States - includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of high school
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 69
Weight: 154

Manuel R. Diaz (Luke)

LUKE — Manuel R. Diaz, 86, of 307 Pratt St, Luke, and most recently of Egle Nursing and Rehab Center, Lonaconing, passed away Friday, March 23, 2007 at WMHS –– Braddock Campus, Cumberland.

Born Aug. 25, 1920 in Luke, he was the son of the late Alfredo and Josephine Diaz. A brother, Avelino Diaz, and a sister, Mary Diaz, also preceded him in death.

Mr. Diaz retired from the United States Post Office in 1984, having been Post Master in Luke. During World War II, he was with the 2538th Army Air Force. He served in Italy, Sicily, Burma, China, and North Africa. He was a Sgt. and Crew Chief on the P40 Fighter Planes. Mr. Diaz was a member of the Luke City Council for many years. He was a member of the Tri-Towns Lions Club, and Victory Post 155 American Legion, Westernport. He was also a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Piedmont, W.Va.

He leaves behind his wife, Christine L. (Nance) Diaz, of Luke; four children, Cindy Plummer, and husband, Robert, of Keyser, W.Va., Doris Marsh, and husband, Gary, of Frostburg, Richard Diaz, and wife, Kim of Houston, Texas, and Dean Diaz, and wife, Julie, of Westminster. His brothers Joseph Diaz, Louis Diaz, Luke, Md. and his sister Helen Mazzone, Moran Manor Nursing Home, Westernport, Md. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Lance Ferguson, Joseph Marsh, and Kristina Marsh; and his great grandchildren, Tristen Walker, Cierra Marsh, and Isabella Diaz.

At Mr. Diaz’s request, his body was cremated. There will be no visitation.

Private services will be held at a later date at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery at Rocky Gap.

Boal Funeral Home, Westernport, is in charge of arrangements.


Manuel & Christine Nance Diaz
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=c88b7c2b-6424-4bfa-9ed4-047ff553afa5&tid=5119414&pid=-1498631152

Town of Luke honors Councilman Diaz
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=37b284f6-c8fa-4265-9ade-2efde83bcc84&tid=5119414&pid=-1498631152

Obituary & Information
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=be2f54f9-7294-45a0-9a2d-60ca795e70f8&tid=5119414&pid=-1498631152

Manuel Richard Diaz, Sr
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=da4e0139-8c60-4bfb-af5e-f481cd5c0e84&tid=5119414&pid=-1498631152

Manuel R & Christine Nance Diaz
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=564892f8-7e5f-4fb1-b0cc-fad1030740fc&tid=5119414&pid=-1498631152

Birth	25 Aug 1920	Luke, Allegany Co., Md. (At home)
Residence	1930	Luke, Allegany, Maryland
Residence	1938 - 1946	WWII Card - Maryland
Military	6 Jan 1942	WWII - Washington, District of Columbia
Marriage	13 Nov 1945	Lutheran Church, Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., WI. - Christine Lena Nance
Residence	1993	Luke, MD
Burial	2007	Rocky Gap Vets Cem., Cumberland, Allegany Co., Md
Death	23 Mar 2007	Sacred Heart Hospital, Cumberland, Md.
Occupation		Post Master

Spouse	Christine Lena Nance (1921 - 2010)
Child	Living
Child	Living
Child	Living
Child	Living

Father	Alfredo Diaz (1884 - 1963)
Mother	Josephine Alvarez (1888 - 1962)