Robert W. Kneeland 1924-1945

KNEELAND

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 9/2/2011 at 03:26:35

Lt Robert W. Kneeland, 19, was killed Dec. 2, 1944, in action on Blak Island, in the South Pacific, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Kneeland, Postville, were notified Friday in a War Dept. message.

Lt. Kneeland had been serving as a navigator-bombardier in the "Apaches" with the Fifth Air Force. He entered service March 8, 1943, and was trained at Ellington Field and San Marcos, Texas, from which place he graduated on Nov. 13, 1943, receiving his silver wings and commission as 2nd lieutenant. He was sent to Roswell, New Mexico, to take a course in bombardiering from which he graduated Feb. 7, 1944. After a ten day leave with his parents he reported to Columbia, South Carolina, for assignment and then to Greenville, So. Carolina, for crew assignment and final training on a B-25 Mitchell Bomber.

He had been overseas since July, 1944, first going to Hawaii, Australia, New Guinea, Netherland East Indies, Phillipines and back to Netherland East Indies. In early November, while in the Phillipines he was wounded and was hospitalized for two weeks in New Guinea and began his missions again on Nov. 28th.

Born Dec 5, 1924, at Clermont, Lt. Kneeland graduated from Postville high school in 1942 and later attended Notre Dame University at South Bend, Ind., until his enlistment in the Army Air Corps. Besides his parents, he is survived by a brother, Francis P. Kneeland, S. 2/c, in Storekeepers School at Sampson, New York, and a sister, Nancy, at home.

~Elgin Echo, February 15, 1945