World War II Honoree

Robert Y. 'Bob' Empie

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

IN 1943, WORKED FOR PAN AMERICAN AIR FERRIES, A U.S. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR THAT FERRIED MILITARY AIRPLANES FROM FACTORIES TO VARIOUS WORLDWIDE BASES, INCLUDING TEHRAN IN IRAN, EGYPT, SOUTH AMERICA AND SOUTH AFRICA. IN 1944, WORKED FOR EASTERN AIRLINES FLYING FROM LA GUARDIA FIELD IN NEW YORK, ON THE NEW YORK TO MIAMI, FLORIDA RUN. DRAFTED INTO MILITARY SERVICE, APPLIED FOR AND WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE AIR FORCES AVIATION CADET PROGRAM. UPON GRADUATION IN 1945, AWARDED HIS SILVER PILOT WINGS AND COMMISSIONED AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT. SELECTED AS A FIGHTER PILOT AND TRAINED IN P-40 'WARHAWK' AIRCRAFT. THE WAR ENDED BEFORE HE WAS DEPLOYED OVERSEAS AND HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. RECALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AFTER THE WAR AND SERVED UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED.