World War II Honoree

Robert Donaldson 'Bob' Phillips, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN NOVEMBER, 1942. APPLIED, AND WAS SELECTED FOR AIRCREW TRAINING IN THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM AS A PILOT. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PREFLIGHT SCHOOL, PRIMARY FLYING SCHOOL, BASIC FLYING SCHOOL AND ADVANCED FLYING TRAINING, HE WAS EARMARKED FOR FOLLOW-ON AIRCRAFT (MEDIUM BOMBARDMENT) TRAINING, AWARDED HIS SILVER PILOT WINGS AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. NEXT, ASSIGNED FOR (2-ENGINE) TRANSITION FLYING TRAINING IN THE AIRCRAFT HE WOULD FLY IN COMBAT. SERVED AS A B-25 'MITCHELL' MEDIUM BOMBER PILOT AND TRAINER DURING THE WAR. AWARDED THE ARMY AVIATOR BADGE, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN APRIL, 1946, AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.