Lee Radke entered the military service in Indiana. He served in the Staff Sergeant and an Engineer/Gunner of an aircraft during World War II. On February 6, 1944 while returning from a combat mission to Hainan Island, China, the B-25 Mitchell bomber S/Sgt. Lee Radke was in, descended through clouds and struck a mountain. All were killed including: 1st Lt. Clarence H. Parkhurst; 1st Lt. Walter S. Myers, 1st Lt. Norman O. Hodges; S/Sgt. Henry J. Herforth; and S/Sgt. Floyd E. Webster. He was Missing in Action and was officially declared dead on February 4, 1916. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Ssgt Radke was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov