Arthur Alexander - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

Mickey Strand - Veterans Series

World War 2

Click on Veteran's photo to see their service story. These Warriors served during the World War 2.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where can I donate?

I have created a way to accept donations to grow the project, use the WWII Veterans Portrait Series Go Fund Me.

Where are you located?

I live in the San Diego area but have traveled to many locations to interview and photograph Veterans.


How Long is an Appointment?

Appointments usually last an hour. But please free up time for Mickey to set up lights and cameras, hold the interview, and take some still photographers for in the project.

Do you accept reservations?

Yes is the simple answer to the question. Each appointment is set up as an individual session. Group sessions have been set up when I visited a senior living facility or many of the California Veterans Homes.

Copyright © 2024 Mickey Strand – Veterans Series
US Army Air Corps MAJ World War 2 Arthur Alexander was born in Helena, Montana but grew up in Kauai, Hawaii. He went to high school in Los Angeles and Portland. He briefly attended Tri-State University in Angola, Indiana, and the University of New Mexico. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in March 1941 and learned to fly the Tiger Moth airplane and the T-6 Texan. Once the US entered the war, Art returned to the States. Arthur served in the US Air Force for 20 years. He was a pilot and flew in many different aircraft during his 20 years of service, but his favorite was the North American P-51 Mustang, a long-range single-seat Fighter/Bomber. Arthur flew this airframe when assigned to the 355th Fighter Group during WW2. Arthur started his combat flight career in the sky over Europe as a 1st Lt. Flying for the US Eighth Air Force, 355th Fighter Group (FG). The squadron flew out of the Royal Air Force base at Steeple Morden (Station 122). This airfield in Cambridgeshire, England, served as a fighter base. Arthur and the 355th, known as “The Steeple Morden Strafers,” effectively eliminated Luftwaffe forces on the ground through strafing and low-level bombing runs, utilizing the P-51’s long-range flight capabilities. They destroyed more than 1500 enemy planes, earning them the distinction of being the top strafing unit in the commend during World War II. As a result, they were honored with the Distinguished Unit Citation. The 355 Fighter Group flew its first combat mission, a fighter sweep over Belgium, on 14 September 1943 and afterward served primarily as escorts for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress/B-24 bombers that attacked industrial areas of Berlin. They provided fighter cover for Allied forces landing in Normandy on 6 June 1944, cutting enemy supply lines and transportation units. During a Bomber Escort mission, First Lieutenant Alexander had to ditch a damaged aircraft in the sky over Holland on or about Dec 15th, 1944. He was captured in Holland and held as a Prisoner of War (POW) in a German prison camp for six months. He was returned at the war's end in May 1945. Arthur suffered from a body that was abused by his captors and was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal. After the war, Arthur remained in the Army Air Corps until 1947, when it became the US Air Force. He served in many commands, flying until the end, and rose to the rank of Major before his retirement after 20 years of active service.
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Arthur Alexander - Mickey Strand - Veterans Series
US Army Air Corps MAJ World War 2 Arthur Alexander was born in Helena, Montana but grew up in Kauai, Hawaii. He went to high school in Los Angeles and Portland. He briefly attended Tri-State University in Angola, Indiana, and the University of New Mexico. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in March 1941 and learned to fly the Tiger Moth airplane and the T-6 Texan. Once the US entered the war, Art returned to the States. Arthur served in the US Air Force for 20 years. He was a pilot and flew in many different aircraft during his 20 years of service, but his favorite was the North American P-51 Mustang, a long-range single-seat Fighter/Bomber. Arthur flew this airframe when assigned to the 355th Fighter Group during WW2. Arthur started his combat flight career in the sky over Europe as a 1st Lt. Flying for the US Eighth Air Force, 355th Fighter Group (FG). The squadron flew out of the Royal Air Force base at Steeple Morden (Station 122). This airfield in Cambridgeshire, England, served as a fighter base. Arthur and the 355th, known as “The Steeple Morden Strafers,” effectively eliminated Luftwaffe forces on the ground through strafing and low-level bombing runs, utilizing the P-51’s long-range flight capabilities. They destroyed more than 1500 enemy planes, earning them the distinction of being the top strafing unit in the commend during World War II. As a result, they were honored with the Distinguished Unit Citation. The 355 Fighter Group flew its first combat mission, a fighter sweep over Belgium, on 14 September 1943 and afterward served primarily as escorts for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress/B-24 bombers that attacked industrial areas of Berlin. They provided fighter cover for Allied forces landing in Normandy on 6 June 1944, cutting enemy supply lines and transportation units. During a Bomber Escort mission, First Lieutenant Alexander had to ditch a damaged aircraft in the sky over Holland on or about Dec 15th, 1944. He was captured in Holland and held as a Prisoner of War (POW) in a German prison camp for six months. He was returned at the war's end in May 1945. Arthur suffered from a body that was abused by his captors and was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal. After the war, Arthur remained in the Army Air Corps until 1947, when it became the US Air Force. He served in many commands, flying until the end, and rose to the rank of Major before his retirement after 20 years of active service.