By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

KETTERING, Ohio - Carl Samuel Wittekind was a three-war fighter pilot. Stationed in North Africa during World War II, he flew many missions against the enemy, including during the Battle of the Bulge, the biggest land battle of the war. He also flew in Korea and Vietnam.

As Cold War tensions ignited, he was also one of the heroes of the Berlin Airlift, a stunning victory for the West when the Soviet Union cut off supply lines to the partitioned city in 1948.

Mr. Wittekind, who died of cancer July 17 at Hospice of Dayton, Ohio, "honestly, truly, was a hero," said his nephew, Ken Wittekind of Norwood.

The Kettering resident was 83.

Born and raised in Norwood, Mr. Wittekind graduated from Norwood High School in 1938 and received an engineering degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

He entered the Army Air Corps in 1944. He left active duty in 1958 but was reactivated for service in Vietnam.

Mr. Wittekind was stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base when he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1976 after 28 years of service.

He attended yearly reunions of the veterans of the Berlin Airlift.

He retired as an engineer for the Monsanto Co. in 1985.

Mr. Wittekind was a life member of VFW Post No. 9927 in Dayton and American Legion Post No. 598. He was also a member of the Dayton Liederkranz-Turners, a German club, the Shamrock Club, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Quiet Birdman Association and the Order of Daedilian.

He volunteered at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Museum.

Survivors include Winona Wittekind, his wife of 35 years; two daughters, Carol Hawksley of Wills Point, Texas, and Gail Baugher of Garland, Texas; a stepdaughter, Donna Rhodes of Birmingham Ala.; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Newcomer-Farley Funeral Home, 3940 Kettering Blvd., Kettering.

Memorials: Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45420.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com