World War II Honoree

Robert E. Ostrander

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Muscatine, Iowa

Honored By

A Grateful American

HE TRAINED AS A BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLE OPERATOR. LATER HE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE ARMY AIR CORPS OFFICER TRAINING PROGRAM AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 64TH BOMB SQUADRON, 43RD BOMB GROUP, 5TH AIR FORCE. WHILE IN NEW GUINEA, HE FLEW 56 COMBAT MISSIONS AS A NAVIGATOR/GUNNER ON B-17 AND B-24 BOMBERS AND ATTAINED THE RANK OF CAPTAIN AND SQUADRON NAVIGATOR OFFICER. RECIPIENT OF THE SILVER STAR, PURPLE HEART, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND AIR MEDAL. HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. AND TRAINED COMBAT CREWS FOR B-17 BOMBERS.