World War II Honoree

Robert L. 'Bob' Cook

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Honored By

John C. Burkhardt, SVC MOPH, Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas

ARMY ROTC PROGRAM, COMMISSIONED AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE INFANTRY UPON GRADUATION. ENTERED ON DUTY AUGUST 13, 1941, ASSIGNED TO THE 3RD ARMORED DIVISION; THE 5TH ARMORED FORCES DIVISION AND THE 9TH ARMORED DIVISION. OCTOBER 1942, HE WAS SELECTED FOR FLIGHT SCHOOL. SENT TO SAN ANTONIO, CORSICANA, GREENVILLE AND HOUSTON FOR TRAINING, RECEIVING HIS PILOTS WINGS IN JUNE 1943. SENT TO CLOVIS, NEW MEXICO FOR TRANSITION TRAINING ON THE B-24 LIBERATOR-HEAVY BOMBER. ON JULY 8, 1943, THE 455TH BOMB GROUP WAS ACTIVATED AND HE WAS SELECTED AS THE FIRST PILOT ASSIGNED. SOON THEY WERE DEPLOYED TO EUROPE ON CHRISTMAS DAY, 1943. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE SAN GIOVANNI AIR FIELD, ITALY, WHERE THEY BECAME PART OF THE 304TH BOMB WING, 15TH AIR FORCE. THEY FLEW THEIR FIRST COMBAT MISSION ON FEBRUARY 16, 1944. ON APRIL 20, 1944, ON A MISSION TO ATTACK TRIESTE HARBOR INSTALLATION AND SHIPPING, GERMAN FIGHTERS CLOSED IN ON THEIR FORMATION, CONCENTRATING FIRE ON HIS PLANE. THEY MADE REPEATED PASSES BADLY DAMAGING THE PLANE. FINALLY THE GERMANS BROKE OFF THEIR ATTACK, LEAVING THE LIBERATOR LIMPING HOME WITH NO HYDRAULIC SYSTEM, WHEEL BRAKES AND LANDING FLAPS NOT FUNCTIONING, AND RUDDER CONTROL CABLES SEVERED. THEY ESTIMATED THE PLANE HAD OVER A THOUSAND HOLES OF VARIOUS SIZES. FINALLY THEY MADE IT BACK AND THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN DOING OVER 100 MILES PER HOUR, PROCEEDING 300 YARDS PAST THE END OF THE RUNWAY, DOWN A 50 FOOT EMBANKMENT, CRASHING INTO A GASOLINE TRAILER, BURSTING INTO FLAMES TRAPPING HIM IN THE COCKPIT. HE WAS PULLED FREE AND RECOVERED IN ABOUT 2 MONTHS TO RESUME FLYING. HE WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN, AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.