Robert enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Corps (later Air
Forces) on December 12, 1942 at the age of 18.
After extensive pilot training in the U.S. where many
student pilots were killed or injured, Robert graduated and was sent to the
European Theatre of operations.
Robert was assigned to the famous 8th AAF (the
Mighty 8th.) Specifically he was part of the 27th
Squadron, 20th Fighter Group.
Robert flew the P-51 Mustang, arguably the best fighter of
WWII. He flew a total of 30 missions including escorting bombers over central Europe.
Mustangs were also used extensively in ground attacks against troop trains,
airfields, munitions factories and other targets of opportunity especially
after the German Luftwaffe was effectively eliminated as masters of the skies
over France, Germany and the Low countries.
Robert was awarded the Air Medal with 3 clusters. He was
discharged as a 1st lieutenant on March 17, 1946.
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