'Lucky' Herschel McKee

'Lucky' Herschel McKee was born November 19, 1897 in Indianapolis, USA. At the age of 16 he ran away from home an joined the French Foreign Legion to fight in WWII. At first he fought in the trenches, before catching pneumonia and being given his last rites. Despite three crashes in training, he then qualified as a pilot for the famed Lafayette Flying Corps and had 12 confirmed kills becoming the youngest Ace. Eventually he was shot down and captured before escaping to Switzerland. With the war over, Lucky returned to his home town. In 1919, he became a riding mechanic in the Indy 500-mile race, survived a crash in which the car turned over and burst into flames. Herschel became a daredevil motorcycle rider, started barnstorming, and continued his role as a riding mechanic probably -- some of the most dangerous occupations. After numerous crashes and lucky escapes, Lucky's flying experience saw him get involved with development of the Boeing B17 -- the so-called 'Flying Fortress'. He flew one on a test flight and skillfully handled it through a hailstorm. He joined the United States Air Force and was shipped to England to fly bombing raids over Germany during WWII. Lucky was decorated by General de Gaulle and survived a 1,000-foot jump from a crashing aircraft by landing in a haystack (That is why they call him "Lucky"). After the war, he continued to fly, piloting experimental aircraft. Lucky escaped death in three more crashes but 'The Man who would not die' finally did so aged 67, by succumbing to complications of a stroke. At his funeral, five women produced evidence of being married to him.

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