World War II Honoree

Bobby Lewis 'Bob' Murphy

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Memphis, Tennessee

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 91ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY), 8TH AIR FORCE. STATIONED AT ROYAL AIR FORCE (RAF) BASSINGBOURN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, HIS B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER GROUP WAS ENGAGED IN STRATEGIC BOMBING MISSIONS. HIS UNIT PARTICIPATED IN THE AIR OFFENSIVE-EUROPE, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS UNIT EXPERIENCED THE GREATEST NUMBER OF LOSSES OF ANY HEAVY BOMB GROUP DURING THE WAR. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT AT HAMM, GERMANY ON MARCH 4, 1943 AND AGAIN AT OSCHERSLEBEN, GERMANY ON JANUARY 11, 1944. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.