Bowker Biography:
Robert Armstrong

Nostalgic Fact:

According to the "Guinness Book Of Aircraft Facts and Feats" Robert Armstrong flew the most consecutive days on record, every day from June 1, 1965 thru January 15, 1969. That is 1,315 days or 3 years 7 months and 15 days.

Robert Armstrong was born April 3, 1921. He grew up in the small western Kansas town of Scott City, population approximately 1,800.

Growing up in the late 1920s and early 1930s an era of serious economical depression. I had the opportunity to learn how to fly under a Federal Government program entitled "Civilian Pilot Training" CPT. I started my flight training in June 1941 and made my first solo flight on July 12th. I received my Private Pilot license on August 26 and quickly enrolled in another CPT program that involved aerobatics and more proficient flying.

In early June 1942, I joined the US Army under a special program for students that had taken CPT courses and was called to active duty in February 1943. I was Commissioned a 2nd Lt. and awarded the silver wings of a pilot on February 8, 1944. I was sent to a training base in Tennessee and became co-pilot for a B-17 crew. I was sent overseas in July 1944 and assigned to the 381st Heavy Bomber Group of the US 8th Army Air Force stationed in England. I flew my first mission on August 14th. The crew and I flew our fifth mission on August 27th, over Emden, Germany. The anti-aircraft fire damaged the plane and as a result the pilot and a gunner were seriously hurt. I took over the controls of the B-17 plane and successfully returned to base in England. This would be my second landing under extremely difficult conditions, since the B-17 no longer had rudders or brakes. I was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross for safely returning the plane back to base and as a result later I was rated a B-17 pilot. I took over command of the crew and flew 32 bombing missions over Germany. After completing my bombing tour I was sent to the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron. I was put in charge of six B-17s carrying air-borne lifeboats. The European War ended in May 1945 and the 5th ERS returned to the US. While awaiting orders to proceed to the Pacific Theater WWII ended. I was discharged from active duty in early October 1945.

Immediately after the war I married Mary Ruth and returned to Scott City where I went into the General Aviation Business. March 1948, I received orders to report to active duty at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. While at Ellsworth my duty was that of a co-pilot for the squadron commander on the B-29. After a short tour of duty I was discharged and returned to Scott City where I returned to general aviation. The aviation business was profitable but dangerous. Small underpowered planes were being used as crop sprayers to control weeds and insects. After four years of crop spraying I sold the aviation business in 1952.

In 1955 I took a job as an airplane salesman for the Cessna Distributorship in most of Kansas and all of Oklahoma. I was promoted to sales manager and later promoted to manager of the distributorship organization. In 1960 I started a General Aviation business in Hutchinson Kansas and taught three of our four children to fly.

Many thanks to Robert Armstrong for his dedication of 28 years in the Air Force Reserve. At the time of his retirement he held the rank of Lt. Colonel.

 

Email: rlm67502@alltel.net
Address: Robert Armstrong
3011A Nutmeg Ln
Hutchinson, KS 67502 USA
Phone: (620) 663-9108