World War II Honoree

Robert Thomas Gilman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Riverside, California

Honored By

David R. Gilman

Relationship

Son

Drafted May 1944. Received Basic Training at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Mississippi. Attended B-29 Technical School in Ainsworth, Nebraska. Attended Flight Engineering School in Wichita, Kansas. Assigned to 603rd Air Engineering Squadron. His assignment was to be a part of the camera crew who helped coordinate activities and maintenance of the B-29's electronics and hydraulics of high-altitude cameras. In June 1945, assigned to the 603rd Air Engineering Squadron, 509th Composite Group and was stationed on Tinian Island. On August 6, 1945, he was back up specialist/engineer on Plane #91 (later named Necessary Evil) which accompanied the Enola Gay on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The crew of Plane # 91’s mission was strike observation and photography. He stayed in the Air Force after WWII. Medals: Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal.