World War II Honoree

Robert E. Colclasure

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Xenia, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON 2 FEBRUARY, 1943 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC AND QUALIFIED FOR THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF MUNITIONS WORKER (901). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON 14 FEBRUARY, 1944 BOUND FOR THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH THE 792ND BOMB SQUADRON, 468TH BOMB GROUP, 58TH BOMB WING (VERY HEAVY) OPERATING BOEING B-29 SUPER FORTRESS AIRCRAFT FROM BASES IN INDIA, THEN CHINA, WHERE THEY COMMENCED OPERATIONS AGAINST TARGETS IN JAPAN, MANCHURIA, CHINA, TAIWAN (FORMOSA), BURMA (MYANMAR), THE MALAY PENINSULA, SINGAPORE AND SUMATRA. ON MARCH 30, 1945 THE 58TH BOMB WING DEPLOYED TO WEST FIELD ON THE ISLAND OF TINIAN WHERE IT CONTINUED THE AIR OFFENSIVE JAPAN UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR IN AUGUST 1945. EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION, THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER AND 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A SERGEANT ON 24 NOVEMBER 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI.