World War II Honoree

Robert L. Hale

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Natick, Massachusetts

Honored By

Brian L. Kasler

Relationship

WW II Historian

SERVED AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES, PACIFIC THEATER, 8TH BOMB SQUADRON, 3RD BOMB GROUP, LARGE. HE WAS 27 YEARS OLD WHEN A JAPANESE FIGHTER PLANE SHOT DOWN HIS B-25 BOMBER OVER PART OF NEW GUINEA KILLING HIM AND THREE OTHER CREW MEMBERS. 63 YEARS AFTER HE AND HIS PLANE WERE REPORTED MISSING OVER THE PACIFIC THEY WERE FOUND AND HIS REMAINS WERE SENT TO HIS HOME STATE FOR BURIAL. HE WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL AND PURPLE HEART.