On the road

On the road

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Honor Flight DFW trip #10 Profiles


 

Robert was at home on Sunday, December 7, 1942 when he heard the news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. His next question may have been,”Where’s Pearl Harbor?” His life would never be the same again.

Robert entered the Army Air Corps on January 1, 1943 at the age of twenty.

He was a pilot in the famous Flying Tigers in the China-Burma-India Theater. Specifically he was a member of the 14th Air Force, 31th Fighter Group, and 529th Fighter Squadron. He started his career flying the P-40 War hawk. These are the planes that are famous for having the shark’s mouth, or tigers teeth painted on the nose of the airplane.

Later Robert flew the P-51 Mustang. This fighter is arguably the most famous and best warplane to come out of WWII.

Robert was discharged from the military on January 1, 1950 with the rank of Captain. He generally believes that his military career was very positive, and that the discipline involved in flying airplanes helped him immensely later in life.

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