World War II Honoree

Robert R. 'Bob' Payne

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1939. SERVED WITH THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD AS A MEMBER OF THE ARMY BAND. ORDERED TO ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE IN 1940 FOR 12 MONTHS WITH THE ARKANSAS GUARD. AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF WAR, ALL NATIONAL GUARD UNITS WERE RETAINED ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR. APPLIED FOR AND WAS ACCEPTED FOR OFFICER TRAINING AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE ARMY AIR FORCES. SERVED AT TINKER FIELD AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AND OVERSEAS ON GUAM IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR. CONTINUED IN AIR FORCE SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL RETIRED WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL.