"There were a lot of pilots who didn't make it who were better than I." (Interview)

Robert H. Powell

Robert Powell, 2003 War: World War II, 1939-1946; Korean War, 1950-1955 Branch: Army Air Forces/Corps Unit: 328th Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group Service Location: Normandy, France; European Theater Rank: Captain; Captain Place of Birth: Wilcoe, WV

At the age of seven, Robert Powell was taken for a ride up into the clouds by a barnstorming pilot, and he was hooked on flying from then on. In wartime Europe, he flew escort missions for bombers, but his favorite job was the most dangerous one: strafing ground positions. He was in his element on D-Day and during the first weeks of the invasion, helping to distract the enemy and provide cover for Allied troops. Since his retirement, Powell has been documenting the history of his squadron in writing and on video.