World War II Honoree

Robert Spencer Whitlow

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 9TH AIR FORCE DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. WORKED IN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE AT BLETCHLEY PARK IN BEDFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND ENGAGED IN HIGHLY CLASSIFIED COMMUNICATIONS INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES. BLETCHLEY PARK WAS THE CENTER FOR 'ULTRA' CODE BREAKING EFFORTS DURING THE WAR. THE DECIPHERING OF MANY OF THE TOP SECRET GERMAN MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC COMMUNICATIONS CODES, INCLUDING 'ENIGMA' CODE MACHINE ENCRYPTIONS, WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL ALLIED OPERATIONS. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.