World War II Honoree

Robert Kleut Yonce

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Towanda, Illinois

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS AT CHANUTE FIELD NEAR RANTOUL, ILLINOIS. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT HARVARD ARMY AIRFIELD, NEBRASKA DURING THE SUMMER OF 1944. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRES OF OPERATION AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 313TH BOMB WING, 505TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (VERY HEAVY), 483RD BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT NORTH FIELD ON TINIAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON FEBRUARY 10, 1945, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER IN THE CENTRAL FIRE CONTROL STATION ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS NICKNAMED 'SLICK’S CHICKS' (TAIL #42-24784). IT WAS ONE OF 120 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-WING FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT ASSEMBLY PLANT AT OTA ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF TOKYO, JAPAN. WHILE OVER THE TARGET AT AN ALTITUDE OF 28,000 FEET, THE GROUP WAS ATTACKED BY A BAND OF NAKAJIMA KI-44 SINGLE-ENGINE 'TOJO' FIGHTER PLANES. DURING THE ATTACK HIS AIRCRAFT SUFFERED A MID-AIR COLLISION WITH ANOTHER B-29 BOMBER, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT AND AIRCREWS.