World War II Honoree

Robert Edwin 'Bob' Gee

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A 19-YEAR OLD AERIAL ENGINEER AND TOP TURRET GUNNER OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER ABOARD A B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER NICKNAMED THE 'WILD HARE'. STATIONED IN ENGLAND WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, HE FLEW 34 MISSIONS. HIS BOMBER UNIT SERVED PRIMARILY AS A DAYLIGHT STRATEGIC BOMBING ORGANIZATION ATTACKING MARSHALLING YARDS, U-BOAT MANUFACTURING, DOCKING, AND REPAIR FACILITIES, THE GERMAN INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM INCLUDING OIL REFINERIES AND STORAGE FACILITIES, AND AIRCRAFT FACTORIES. THEIR AREA OF OPERATIONS INCLUDED GERMANY AND OCCUPIED EUROPE. AS AN AERIAL ENGINEER, CHECKED THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE FLIGHT; MADE REPAIRS AND ADJUSTMENTS IN FLIGHT TO CORRECT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS; AND ASSISTED THE CO-PILOT OPERATE FLIGHT CONTROLS, POWER PLANT COMPONENTS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. ALSO SERVED AS AN AERIAL GUNNER WHEN UNDER AIR ATTACK. AWARDED THE AERIAL GUNNER BADGE, AIR MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.