World War II Honoree

Robert Edward Perkins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Beverly, Massachusetts

Honored By

Beth Perkins Gates Curtis

Relationship

Daughter

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE IN FEBRUARY OF 1942 AS A WARRANT OFFICER WITH THE ARMY AIR CORPS. HE SERVED WITH THE 417TH NIGHT FIGHTER SQUADRON AS AN RADAR OBSERVER ABOARD P-61 'BLACK WIDOW' AND BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER FIGHTERS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER OF OPERATIONS FROM MARCH OF 1943 UNTIL AUGUST 1944. SERVED THE FOLLOWING CAMPAIGNS: NORTHER APENNINES, CENTRAL EUROPE, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND AND PO VALLEY. HE ATTAINED THE RANK OF 1ST LIEUTENANT AND REMAINED IN SERVICE AFTER THE WAR. WWII SERVICE AWARDS: DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH SEVEN BRONZE STARS, ARMY OF THE OCCUPATION MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH GOLD STAR.