Career
After his 19th B-24 Liberator mission, when the Lurchin Urchin (41-29223) crashed near Cervia, he was a Prisoner Of War commander until April 4, 1945. Then marched to Stalag Luft III where on April 27 he was the West Compound commander until liberated. The Maui Maid was scrapped for parts after a different crew struck an embankment.
In 1958, Alkire appeared on television in 1958 regarding the "Rocket Age."
The United States Air Force filmed the Lurchin Urchin B-24 Liberator on the mission in which Colonel Alkire was shot down.