World War II Honoree

Robert L. Estes

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Walton, New York

Honored By

Robert L. Estes

Relationship

Son

HE WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, ON NOVEMBER 25, 1942, AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 83RD INFANTRY DIVISION AT CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA. HE VOLUNTEERED FOR AND ATTENDED PARATROOP SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, UNTIL INCURRING A NECK INJURY IN A TRAINING JUMP. HE THEN WAS ACCEPTED FOR AVIATION CADET TRAINING, RECEIVING HIS PILOT'S WINGS AT TURNER FIELD IN GEORGIA IN JULY, 1944. HE EVENTUALLY QUALIFIED TO PILOT A B-17 AIRCRAFT, AND WAS ASSIGNED ULTIMATELY TO THE 418TH SQUADRON, 100TH BOMB GROUP AT THORPE ABBOTTS IN EAST ANGLIA, ENGLAND. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN A MISSION TO RAIL MARSHALING YARDS AT NUREMBERG, GERMANY ON 5 APRIL 1945.