Lt. Col. Henry Cervantes, age 100, passed away April 7, 2024, at his residence in Playa Vista, CA.  He was born in Fresno, CA on October 9, 1923 (although his military records have October 10, 1923) and grew up in East Contra Costa County area – Pittsburg, Oakley, Brentwood area. He graduated from Liberty High School in Brentwood in 1941 where he played football and ran track.

Henry is survived by his friend and companion of almost 60 years- Nancy Sadler-Kahn, sister Jennie Gonzales, and several nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his parents: mother Maria Rincon Gutierrez, stepfather Ignacio Gutierrez, 3 brothers - Gus Cervantes, Reuben Gutierrez and Steve Gutierrez, and 2 sisters- Evelyn Lamport and Aurora Cardona.

In January of 1943 at age 19 he followed his brother into the Army. Soon after basic training he saw a posted memo looking for pilot candidates, He applied although the odds for a Mexican American were slim. He took the test and passed.  That changed the direction of his life.

Hank was one of the few Mexican American pilots in the 100th Bomb Group during World War II. He completed 26 missions as part of the 349th Squadron and remarkably survived a suicide attack from a German ME-109G on April 7, 1945. He was one of the few surviving members of the "Bloody" 100th Bomb Group to attend the premier of "Masters of the Air" in Westwood in January of this year.

Hank stayed in the Army Air Corp after World War II and was one the first pilots to test and fly the B 47. He became a Master Pilot. His last Air Force assignment was at SAC Headquarters as a Project Manager for the B 58, the first military plane to fly Mach 2.

Hank had a very interesting life.  After retiring from the military and moving to Los Angeles in 1965, he ran into a friend who had just become the base commander at Los Angeles AFB, home of the Space & Missile Systems Organization.  His friend asked him to take over the long-neglected Officer's Club. Hank took it over and made it one of the most successful officers club in the Air Force – hosting retired Generals, celebrities, and nuclear scientists.

After his friend retired as base commander, Hank worked for the Los Angeles Office of Defense Contract Administration Services for the DOD.  He retired in 1986 as Director of Policy and Plans.

The next day Mayor Tom Bradley invited him to serve as a staff advisor for Hispanic affairs and serve on promotion boards. He stayed with Mayor Bradley throughout the Mayor's term.

Hank was a rated USA Track and Field Official and officiated in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. He attended at least 8 national Olympics. He volunteered his services to the Special Olympics in Los Angeles for many years.

Hank wrote a book that was published in 2003 about his early life and Air Force career. Piloto – Migrant Worker to Jet Pilot. He was an avid skier and belonged to the Southern California Ski Club for many years. He was a motivational speaker to young people in various high schools in Los Angeles and the surrounding area. In his 90's he was a fast walker - walking at least 3 miles/day and continued to work out at the gym until he was 99. He was a man of high integrity and loved his family.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, April 29, 2024, at the Holy Cross Chapel, 5835 W. Slauson Ave., Culver City, CA at 1:00pm. Burial Tuesday, April 30th, 2024, at 12noon at the Resurrection Cemetery in Rosemead, CA.

Donations in his honor can be made to the 100th Bomb Group Foundation.  Information can be found on their web site "100thbg.com"