World War II Honoree

Robert W. Wyland

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Hays, Kansas

Honored By

Stewart W. Wyland

Relationship

Son

IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR IN EUROPE, HE WAS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS PILOTS. THE WAR DEPARTMENT DECIDED THAT PAN AM WAS A COMBAT MULTIPLIER, SO IT'S PILOTS WERE COMMISSIONED ENSIGNS IN THE NAVY FOR SERVICE PURPOSES, BUT THEY REMAINED PAN AM PILOTS AND FLEW TROOPS AND CARGO INTO EUROPE LONG BEFORE ANY WAR DEPARTMENT PLANES WERE READY OR ABLE TO DO SO. HE WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE BEFORE BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE SERVICE. HE CONTINUED WITH PAN AM UNTIL RETIREMENT AFTER 37 YEARS OF SERVICE.