According to an enlistment record on the National Archives and Records Administration website and an obituary printed in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Melvin L. Best was born near Lubbock, Texas in 1921.
He enlisted as an Aviation Cadet on January 13, 1942, had completed three years of college, was single without dependents, and listed actor as an occupation. He went on to become one of the original cadre of pilots in the 498th Bomb Squadron, 345th Bomb Group that arrived in New Guinea in early 1943.
Captain Best was listed as pilot on thirty-seven combat missions found among the mission reports for the 498th Squadron. He undoubtedly flew other types of missions, such as weather reconnaissance or convoy patrol, that were not listed among the available reports. His obituary credits him with sixty-two completed missions before he became the Assistant Operations Officer for V Bomber Command.