Harbor on the cars radio.
Robert was inducted into the US Marines in November, 1942 at the age of 21.
Robert went into flight training to become a pilot. In his career in the Marine Corps Robert flew dive bombers and fighters. Among some of the aircraft he flew were the SBD Dauntless, the SB2C Helldiver (the Beast), and the F4U Corsair fighter.
He was assigned to the VMSB-331 squadron of the 4th Marine Air Wing. His unit was based at Majuro in the Marshall Islands.
During his service Robert flew many missions hitting nearby islands such as Millie, Jaluit, Maloelap and Wotje Island. Wotje Island held a large Japanese seaplane base. One of the important facts about Millie Island is that this was the location of the first formal surrender of Japanese forces after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On August 22, 1945 the USS Levy DE 162 was host to this historic event and first surrender of Japanese territory as WWII ended.
Roberts’s most memorable experience was when his dive bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire during a bombing run on Wotje Island. Robert had to “dead stick” a landing of his damaged aircraft into the Pacific. Luckily he and his rear seat gunner were picked up by a Navy PBY Catalina flying boat. He and his gunner were soon back at their base.
Robert was discharged from the Marines on December 22, 1946 with the rank of Captain. He received the Air Medal during his time in the service.
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