Lieutenant Colonel Robert “Bob” Armstrong, USAF (ret.) said of his United States Air Force career, “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.” Lieutenant Colonel Robert Armstrong is the author of Friendly and Enemy Skies.