World War II Honoree

Robert L. Miller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Indianapolis, Indiana

Honored By

Joseph A. Miller

Relationship

Son

STAFF SERGEANT, AIRFRAME/POWERPLANT MECHANIC AND RIGHT BLISTER GUNNER, B-29 'SUPERFORTRESS'. INDUCTED AT INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, WITH MECHANIC SCHOOLING AT GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI. THEN ELECTRICAL SCHOOL AT CHANUTE FIELD, ILLINOIS, FOLLOWED BY FURTHER TRAINING AT BOEING FIELD, WASHINGTON. AFTER ARMOR AND GUNNERY TRAINING AT LOWRY FIELD, COLORADO, ASSIGNED TO THE 77TH BOMB SQUADRON, 58TH BOMB WING, 462ND BOMBARDMENT GROUP 'HELL BIRDS', 20TH U.S. AIR FORCE, STATIONED AT PIARDOBA AIRFIELD, INDIA. FLEW MISSIONS DURING THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA DEFENSIVE, PALEMBANG SUMATRA, AND AIR OFFENSIVE JAPAN CAMPAIGNS. THE PALEMBANG SUMATRA FLIGHTS WERE OVER THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS, 'THE HUMP', TO AIRFIELDS IN THE CHENGTU VALLEY, CHINA. AFTER EIGHTEEN HOURS AND SEVEN SUCH FLIGHTS, ENOUGH FUEL AND BOMBS WERE DELIVERED FOR LONG RANGE BOMBING MISSIONS OVER THE JAPANESE HOMELAND. RETURNED AT WAR'S END TO DAVIS-MONTHAM FIELD, TUCSON, ARIZONA, FOR SEPARATION FROM THE SERVICE. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.