Mike Titre Legacy Gift
Established by the late Michael A. Titre
You never know if a child, head tilted to the sky and arms spread wide, will become the next Burt Rutan or Amelia Earhart, changing the face of aviation forever. Believe in them and they will believe in themselves.
This mantra fueled Mike Titre’s dedication to EAA youth. As co-founder of KidVenture, a prominent staple at AirVenture, Oshkosh, Titre believed in the power of inspiration. Each year, he strived to infuse experiential education into every KidVenture program or activity, consistently challenging youth to pursue their dreams and live up to their potential.
“Mike never boasted about things, especially himself. He was very humble” remembers Dan Majka, a close friend of Titre’s and fellow KidVenture supporter. “That’s the kind of guy he was, the perfect wingman for me at KidVenture.”
Before passing away at the age of 83 in August 2007, Titre ensured that his spirit would live on, assisting future generations for years to come through an unrestricted legacy gift to EAA’s endowment fund.
“Mike wanted to be sure that after his death his belief and passion for youth education would continue,” said Elissa Lines, vice president of donor and business development at EAA.
Titre lived a life dedicated to aviation, beginning in 1942 when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He graduated from flight training as a P-47 Thunderbolt Pilot and in World War II was assigned to the 9th Air Force 405th Fighter Group. He nicknamed his P-47 “The Mole,” after the Dick Tracy character. All the pilots in his squadron followed suit and were named after Dick Tracy characters as well.
As a fighter pilot, Titre was involved in 58 combat missions and, in his own words, “I got shot at on all of them but clobbered only once!” His decorations included the ETO ribbon with five Battle Stars, the Medal for Human Action with three ribbons, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Yet, perhaps what Titre will be most known for is his involvement in the Berlin Airlift as the chief weather forecaster, responsible for all airlift operations in and out of Berlin. “He was the architect behind the whole thing, deciding when all the planes flew in and out,” remembers his brother, Peter Titre. “He was so proud of what they accomplished.”
Titre was commissioned again as a pilot during the Korean War and also served as an instrument flight instructor for the Korean Air Force. “My flying career can be summed up as 3,000 hours, two dead sticks and two crash landings,” said Mike Titre. “But, no injuries.”
Upon retirement from the Air Force in 1962, Titre took a different career path and entered the world of education as a high school physics teacher. Just as he witnessed the impact of efforts in furthering KidVenture, Titre was able to see the positive effects education can trigger in youth.
“KidVenture has grown substantially because of Mike’s work and the many volunteers who dedicated their time and resources to it,” shared Lines. “He was consistently working toward building a hands-on experience for kids that would stimulate interest, questions and imagination.”
Known for his extremely accurate, detailed and inspirational stories, Titre remained active in retirement in both EAA and other organizations. “He was just a wonderful guy, full of life,” remembers Ken Jarosch, a former student of Titre’s.
Now, thanks to his legacy gift to EAA, Titre will give wings to countless generations of flyers.
To learn more about Mike Titre’s life in aviation from the source, watch his video clip.
a lasting legacy
“KidVenture has grown substantially because of Mike’s work and the many volunteers who dedicated their time and resources to it,” shared Elissa Lines, vice president of donor and business development at EAA.
“He was consistently working toward building a hands-on experience for kids that would stimulate interest, questions and imagination.”