ROBERT L. ROHLFING,  0-753246 - PILOT


First Lieutenant Robert Lester Rohlfing, (1920-1993) was born in Fisher, Illinois on January 21, 1920. Upon graduation from Fisher High School in 1936 he enrolled in College at the University of Illinois where he studied Education.   Bob started his teaching career at Seaton High School as the first and only Vo-Ag teacher. He married Mary Allen in Fisher on June 29, 1941. After teaching two years he joined the Army and attended basic training in June 1942 and was accepted  to the Aviation Cadet Training program in November 1942.

He began Primary Flight Training at the Rankin Aeronautical Academy (Rankin Field) in Tulare, California in February 1943. Rankin Field became one of the 62 civilian-owned flying schools in the U.S. that taught 1.4 million World War II Army pilots to fly. Basic flying skills were taught in the PT-17 Stearman at Rankin. He completed Primary on the 12 April 1943 and it was on to Basic and Advanced Flight Training at Marfa Army Airfield in Marfa, Texas. During Basic, Bob learned formation flight, instruments and aerial navigation skills. During advanced, the Cadets were broken into single-engine and Multi-engine categories. (Roy was multi-engine) Single engine Cadets would go on to fly fighters, and multi-engine Cadets became bomber or transport pilots. Bob flew the BT-13A trainer. He received the silver wings of the United States Army Air Force in Class 43-H from Marfa, Texas [See the  graduation Dance announcement] [invitation card] [see graduation announcement] & from flight school on August 30, 1943 [see the orders] along with several other members of the Second Emergency Rescue Squadron. Hugh Pennington, Bill Holbrook, Larry Bormann, John Denison, John Dickinson, Denzil Kathman, Harry Remington, Frank Rauschkolb, Leroy Nelson, Don Dixon and Jim Scott were graduates of this class.

On the 14 September 1943 Frank then transferred to Selman Field in Monroe, Louisiana to begin his navigation training. [orders] In early October 1943 the group was transferred to Penscacola Naval Air Station, Florida to begin the approximate 6 week transition into the PBY-5A "Catalina." [orders] Upon completing the required Navy syllabus the men would also received the gold wings of a Naval Aviator. Bob and other 2nd ERS members were transferred to Gulfport Field, Mississippi and eventually Keesler Field, Biloxie, Mississippi to complete the Air Sea Rescue Training required by the USAAF. Once complete, the Second Emergency moved to California to begin the transition to the Pacific Theater to join the war effort. In July 1944 Bob was sent to the South Pacific with the 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron. Before returning home he was stationed from Australia to the Philippines. Bob had a memorable mission in a C-47 on 17 April 1945 [Mission Report] when he and his crew had to ditch the then brand new airplane in the treacherous waters off Biak Island. Read his co-pilot, Warner Britton's story of what happened that fateful night. Upon return to the United States, Bob and Mary moved to Paxton, Illinois in August 1945.   He signed a contract to teach Vocational Agriculture at the Paxton High School. Bob also served 21 months in service during the Korean conflict after being recalled to active duty.

The Rohlfing’s have four children: Robert Allen, Kenneth Edward, Carol Ann and David Ray. Bob received his MA degree in 1951 and his Advanced Certificate in 1968.  After 35 years of teaching, he retired in 1975.  While at Paxton he had a very active Future Farmers of America chapter.  During this time many students received the State Farmer Degree.   In 1968 Bob was awarded the Honorary State Farmer Degree and in 1972 the Honorary American Farmer Degree. Following retirement, he was associated with the Weaver-Niewold-Rohlfing real estate firm for several years.  Bob also taught at the area Parkland Junior College for several years.  He served on the County Board for six years as well as worked in the District Office of Education.

Bob and Mary were active in the Paxton United Methodist Church and spend their leisure time traveling. Bob passed away on 22 October 1993 at age 73 in Paxton, Illinois.  His wife, Mary,
passed away 11 March 2013.

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R O B E R T   R O H L F I N G' S  R E C O R D S

ORDER NO. & DATE

DESCRIPTION  & ISSUING HQ

ENLISTED ID CARD
(26 March 1942)
Bob's enlisted ID card given to him before he attended flight training.
FLIGHT RECORDS
(Feb, Mar, April 1943)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the months of February, March, and April 1943 while he was in flight school at Blythe, California.
CERT. OF PROFICIENCY
(24 June 1943)
Individual certificate of proficiency for Bob Rohlfing. Headquarters, Army Air Forces Pilot School, Bomber - 2 Engine, Marfa, Texas [map]
FLIGHT RECORDS
(Jun, Jul, Aug 1943)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the months of June, July, and August 1943 while he was in flight school at Marfa, Texas.
GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT
(30 August 1943)
Orders The graduation announcement for Class 43-H for Squadron members Rohlfing, Nelson, Scott, Remington, Holbrook, & Rauschkolb
PERSONNEL ORDER No. 45
(30 August 1943)
Orders rating Holbrook, Pennington, Remington, and Rohlfing as pilots. Headquarters,  Army Air Forces West Coast Training Center, Santa Ana, California.
OFFICER'S ID CARD
(30 August 1943)
Officer's ID Card issued to Bob upon his graduation from flight school on 30 August 1943.
HONORABLE DISCHARGE
(30 August 1943)
Honorable Discharge given to Bob upon graduation from Flight School as an Aviation Cadet.
FLIGHT RECORDS
(September 1943)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month September 1943 while he was in flight school at Selman Field, Monroe, Louisiana. [map]
FLIGHT RECORDS
(October 1943)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month October 1943 while he was in flight school at Pensacola, Florida.
FLIGHT RECORDS
(December 1943)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month December 1943 while he was in flight school at Pensacola, Florida.
FLIGHT RECORDS
(January 1944)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month January 1944 while he was in flight school at Pensacola, Florida.
FLIGHT RECORDS
(February 1944)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month February 1944 while he was in flight school at Gulfport Field, Mississippi [Map]
OPERATIONS ORDER No. 3
(21 March 1944)
Orders naming members of the Second Emergency Rescue Squadron as PRINCIPAL PILOTS on the OA-10, AT-11, and the L-5 aircraft. 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron, Gulfport Field, Mississippi [Map]
FLIGHT RECORDS
(March 1944)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month March 1944 while he was in flight school at Gulfport Field, Mississippi. [Map]
FLIGHT RECORDS
(April 1944)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month of April 1944 while he was in flight school at Keesler Field, Mississippi. [Map] The unit was transferred in whole from Gulfport to Keesler via SO No. 91 dated 31 March 1944.
"HEXAGON" NEWSLETTER
(2 December 1944)
This is the Hexagon Newsletter from APO 926 (Morotai). This was like Stars and Stripes in a much smaller scale. It gave the news of the day and then locally told what movies were out and what theaters they were in as well as lost and found etc...
FLIGHT RECORDS
(January 1945)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month of January 1945 while he was stationed in the Southwest Pacific.
PRICIPLE PILOT C-47
(16 January 1945)
Orders naming members of the Second Emergency Rescue Squadron as PRINCIPAL PILOTS on the C-47 aircraft. 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron, APO 719 (Morotai)
FLIGHT RECORDS
(February 1945)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month of February 1945 while he was stationed in the Southwest Pacific.
IINSTRUMENT CERTIFICATE
(29 March 1945)
Instrument Certificate given to Bob Rohlfing upon passing his instrument checkride. Signed by Clarence Solander. This rating was actually "made up" as it was determined that they needed an instrument rating. This was "pencil whipped" to show that it was completed.
FLIGHT RECORDS
(March 1945)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month of March 1945 while he was stationed in the Southwest Pacific.
FLIGHT RECORDS
(April 1945)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month of April 1945 while he was stationed in the Southwest Pacific.
FLIGHT RECORDS
(May 1945)
Individual flight record for Bob Rohlfing for the month of May 1945 while he was stationed in the Southwest Pacific.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
(23 August 1945)
Certificate given to Bob upon his separation from military service.
GIBSON GIRL CERTIFICATE
(21 September 1945)
Certificate given to Bob after being rescued using a Gibson Girl Survival Radio on 18 April 1945. His C-47 aircraft went down on 17 April 1945 after running out of fuel. It was a brand new aircraft and the fuel would not transfer. Read about the Gibson Girl survival radio. Here is another site from the Netherlands about the Gibson Girl.
APPOINTMENT TO RESERVE
(21 May 1946)
Appointment orders to the Officer's Reserve Corps.
AAF SONG
(No date)
Army Air Force Song.
HIGH JINKS
(No date)
Pamphlet on flying airplanes.
DITCHING DOCUMENT
(No date)
Pamphlet on ditching procedures taken from recent events.
   

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