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MAGEE -- Alan E. Magee, 84, of Angel Fire, New Mexico passed away on December 20, 2003 in San Angelo, Texas after a brief illness. Alan was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. He was predeceased by his father, Resue; and his mother, Doretta; his brothers, Earl and Robert, his sisters, Marjorie and Dorothy. He is survived by his wife, Helen; and sister, Adele; as well as many nieces and nephews. Alan served in the 8th Air Force during World War II as a staff sergeant ball turret gunner. On January 3, 1943 his B-17 bomber was hit during a raid on St. Nazaire, France. As his plane went into a spin he went out thru a hole in the plane and was hit in the face by flak and his oxygen mask torn off. The people of St. Nazaire honored him on the 50th anniversary of his fall with many still remembering his body cartwheeling thru the sky and going thru the glass roof of the railroad station. His 22,000 ft. fall while unconscious and without a parachute was selected by the Smithsonian Institute as one of the ten most amazing survivals during World War II. After several months in a German hospital he spent the next two and a half years in a German prisoner of war camp. Following the war Alan worked for many years in Miami, Fla. for Northeast Airlines and retired from Delta Airlines. He moved to Angel Fire in 1979. During his retirement Alan and his wife were widely traveled RVer's both in the states and abroad. Cremation has taken place and a private memorial service will be held by family members at a later date.
        Published on: Sun January 11, 2004