Bob enlisted in pilot school after graduating in 1935, but after Pearl Harbor he re-enlisted, becoming a navigator.



On 12 August 1943, Bob's aircraft was shot down, and his crew were forced to land in the Netherlands. They successfully evaded capture for a short while, but were eventually found by German forces. Bob was arrested in Rotterdam and imprisoned in Stalag Luft III.



Bob was forced marched to Mooseberg towards the end of the war, and eventually liberated by Gen Pattons US Army. He returned to the US in 1945, and on his return to Ohio married his sweetheart Dolores Santee.



Bob celebrated his 102nd Birthday in 3/21/019.



7 missions in YB-40. Flew 7 more missions in B-17. Shot down Gelsenkirchen-Bochem 12 August 1943 in B-17 #42-29884. Ran with co/pilot Donald E. Weir and they evaded capture with the Dutch underground until captured by Gestapo in civilian clothes 2 September 1943 going house to house. Luftwaffe officer yanked them from Gestapo and had them sent to Prisoner of War (POW) camp Stalag Luft III then to Stalag 7A Moosberg as the Russians closed in on Luft lll. Bob even made contact after the War with the family of one of the German fighter pilots that escorted their B-17 to its belly landing in a Dutch field.



AM/ PH/ POW