World War II Honoree

Robert Joseph 'Bob' Petty

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942. SERVED AS A B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER BOMBARDIER-NAVIGATOR IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER DURING THE WAR. ASSIGNED TO THE 401ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP, NICKNAMED 'BOWMAN'S BOMBERS' WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, BASED AT DEENETHORPE, ENGLAND. HIS GROUP OPERATED PRIMARILY AGAINST STRATEGIC TARGETS. ALSO MADE ATTACKS IN SUPPORT OF THE NORMANDY D-DAY LANDINGS, THE BREAKTHROUGH AT SAINT LO AND SEIGE OF BREST IN FRANCE; THE AIRBORNE ATTACKS ON HOLLAND AND THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE; AND THE AIRBORNE ATTACKS ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER. AS A BOMBARDIER, DIRECTED FLIGHT OF THE BOMBER WHEN APPROACHING AND OVER THE TARGET AREA, OPERATED THE BOMBSIGHT, IDENTIFIED THE TARGET AND RELEASED BOMBS. AS A NAVIGATOR, PLOTTED THE COURSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO AND FROM THE TARGET AREA, FURNISHED THE PILOT WITH FLIGHT DIRECTIONS EN ROUTE, AND KEPT THE FLIGHT LOG BOOK. ALSO SERVED AS AN AERIAL GUNNER WHEN UNDER ATTACK OUTSIDE THE TARGET AREA. PARTICIPATED IN THE AIR OFFENSIVE-EUROPE, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. TOOK PART IN 35 MISSIONS OVER EUROPE INCLUDING TO BERLIN, SCHWEINFURT AND LEIPZIG IN GERMANY. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH ONE SILVER OAK LEAF CLUSTER, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT OVER GERMANY DURING STRIKES AGAINST AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION FACILITIES ON JANUARY 11, 1944 AND FEBRUARY 20, 1944. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. RECALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AFTER THE WAR AND SERVED UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF MAJOR.