World War II Honoree

Robert Emerson 'Bob' Altman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lake City, Florida

Honored By

William David Wilson, American Legion Post 68

He was the Radio Operator-Gunner on the B-17 piloted by Colin P Kelly. The flew from Clark Field to meet the Japanese attackers. They bombed what was thought to be at the time, the Battleship Haruna. They only had three bombs with one scoring a direct hit and the other two causing damage. On their return to Clark Field, they were attacked by Japanese Zeros and shot down. He parachuted to safety. He was later captured in the Philippine Islands and spent the remainder of the war in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp. He was liberated from the Omori Prisoner of War Camp. He was able to clear up misconceptions about the bombing mission as he provided first hand information.