AUGUSTA, MAINE
Sir Donald L. Tuttle, age 92, died unexpectedly Monday, April 24, 2017 at his home. He was born in Gardiner, ME on November 2, 1924 the son of Ruby L. Tuttle and Beatrice (Davies) Tuttle.
Don was educated in local schools.
He worked for Hudson Pulp & Paper Co. and several construction companies. He drove concrete mixer trucks for V.E. Dunn & Son for 31 years while he “looked for something steady.”
Don designed, built and lived in the first underground house in the area. He was an avid writer who wrote prose and many poems, some of which won awards. Many were published by the 449th Bomb Group Association of which he was a member. Don had many stories and poems published by the Air Force Liberator magazine “Briefing.” He wrote hundreds of “Letters to the Editor” for the Kennebec Journal and the Capital Weekly. He was well known for his wit and always had a joke or two to tell his many friends.
He entered the Army Air Corps in March 1943 and took his basic training in Miami Beach, FL. He graduated from radio school in Scott Field, IL and from gunnery school in Harlingen, TX where he was promoted to Sergeant. Don took his overseas training in Gowen Field, Boise, ID and then was promoted in rank to Staff Sergeant. He flew 50 bombing missions over southern Europe as a tail gunner on a B-24 Liberator. He was wounded on his second mission, continued to fly, and was shot down on his 40th bombing mission, over the infamous Brenner Pass in Northern Italy. He bailed out over enemy territory about a mile and a half north of the British 8th Army lines. A patrol of British infantrymen came across the lines to rescue him. He was flown back to his airbase in Southern Italy. He flew 10 more missions to complete his tour with the 716th squadron, 449th bomb group in the 15th Army Air Force. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat, four air medals, good conduct medal, European Theatre of Operations medal with 7 bronze battle stars and the Victory medal. He also received awards for expert marksmanship with several weapons.
Long after the war, he was awarded a Gold Star by the Greek Air Force for his participation in the bombing of German troops and supplies in Greece. A year after that, he was awarded another medal by the Royal Air Force in Great Britain for bravery for his fighting in the air war over Europe. In November of 2013, Don was knighted into the French Legion of Honor for his help in liberating France. He was also awarded the State of Maine Silver Star.
Don was a member of the Caterpillar Club for having his life saved by a parachute. He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans and represented them for many years in local parades. He was a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He was also a member of 449th Bomb Group Association and a contributor to their history book.
Don was pre-deceased by the love of his life, his wife of 61 years, Joan (Drouin) Tuttle, who died on Jan. 21, 2008. He was also preceded in death by his youngest son, Rocky Tuttle on March 24, 2002; a brother, Robert Tuttle and a step-brother, Ruby Tuttle.
Surviving is a son, Gary L. Tuttle of Augusta; brothers: Arthur of Mt. Vernon, Lawrence of Reno, NV, Allen of Sidney and Dana of Augusta; sisters: Jackie Bymaster of New Paris, OH, Jeanine Tuttle of Quincy, MA, and Judith Lambert of Kansas; half-sisters, Betty Monteith and Roxanne Gilson both of Randolph; grandsons Gary Jr. of Augusta, Nathan Sponsler of Florida and Ian Johnson of Pennsylvania; granddaughter Alicia Tuttle of Farmingdale and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and a great-great grandson.
Friends may visit from 2-4 & 6-8 PM on Sunday, April 30th at Plummer Funeral Home, 16 Pleasant St., Augusta. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, May 1st at 11 AM at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Augusta. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Mt. Vernon Road, Augusta.