Robert P. LaFlamme
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Robert P. LaFlamme served in World War II in the U.S. Army Air Force from September 25, 1943, until March 6, 1946.
He completed basic training at Kessler Field, Biloxi, Mississippi and received three months of college training at Houghton College. He was on course to train as a pilot.
In Santa Ana, California, at Pre-Flight School, he had to choose a different career path due to the surplus of Army pilots. He chose aerial gunnery as his new path and was sent to Lowry Field in Denver, Colorado, for 8 months of training. He was sent for inflight gunnery training to Las Vegas, Nevada, and then to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he trained with B-29 bomber crews in preparation for being sent to the Pacific Theater. His highest rank was a Corporal.
The war ended before he could be sent into action and he was sent to Ft. McCoy where he was discharged in 1946.
Mr. La flame was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on September 4, 1925, to parents Ernst and Ann LaFlamme.
Source: Veteran’s Memorial Hall History Form; veteran’s account (see below)
Started by going to Kessler Field for basic training. Then to Houghton College for college training, 3 months. Then to Santa Ana California for Pre-Flight School. They said they had too many pilots so we had to select another part of the service so I chose aerial gunnery. So I was sent to Lowry Field for 8 months. Then to Las Vegas for in flight gunnery training. Then to Lincoln Nebraska for B-29 crews for Japan. Then the war was declared over and I was sent to Langley Field Virginia, from there to Fort McCoy for discharge.
