He was the senior officer in command of the West Compound at Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp after being shot down and captured in 1944.

On December 18, 1943, Alkire piloted the Maui Maid (41-28623) to Grottaglie Airfield, making it the first 449th Bombardment Group B-24 to land in Italy.

[9][10][11] Both a book and a movie were made about the Great Escape by prisoners in the North Compound of Stalag Luft III during Alkire's internment.

[13][14][15] In 1929, Alkire took a three-month leave from the Army Air Corp while stationed in Hawaii to help Inter-Island Airways begin flight operations.

The ceremonies were attended by thousands of residents and led by Hawaii Territorial Governor Lawrence M. Judd and Inter-Island Airways founder Stan Kennedy.

As champagne and floral leis christened the two Sikorky's for their voyage, Alkire flew overhead in the Bellanca capturing the scene on film.

In 1958, Alkire appeared on a Salt Lake City television interview series regarding the Cold War, titled "What Security in the Rocket Age?