Fran and Bob Spaulding March 1992

I am, indeed, extremely fortunate to have been a member of Bob Spaulding's World War II B-29 crew - the "Lord's Prayer." The other surviving members of our crew, of which there are five, with a sixth unlocated at this time, were deeply shaken to learn of Bob's passing. They regret that they could not be here and have asked me to convey their heart felt sorrow to his wife and family and to many of his friends.

Together, we as a crew continue to thank Bob who through the hands of God guided us safely through 26 combat missions against the Japanese homeland. These missions were 16 hours or more over 3,000 miles of perilous waters and through some of the worst weather imaginable. It was not uncommon for us to encounter jet stream winds in excess of 100 miles per hour. All this to deliver a ten-ton bomb load through blistering anti-aircraft fire and vicious enemy fighter attacks on another major Japanese city.

Through all this, 23-year-old Bob Spaulding had the awesome task of taking us to the target and returning us safely to Guam. This he did, unfailing, 26 times - a total of over 400 combat hours!

At 23, Bob was probably the youngest Airplane Commander in the entire 39th Bomb Group - the youngest, I might add among some 50 Airplane Commanders.

Our crew was formed at Smoky Hill Army Air Field in Salina, Kansas in the late summer of 1944. It wasn't long before we realized we had an exceptional competent and caring leader.

I cannot over emphasize the camaraderie of a combat crew. The bond formed is one of the strongest and most enduring that a group can of individuals can make. Though we were together only for only a year or so, we became inseparable. During those months, we not only flew together, but we lived together, played and faced unknown fate together. One of a crewman's worst moments was watching his crew take off on a combat mission and he being left behind due to illness or other reasons.

Such a group of men was Crew 5 of the "Lord's Prayer."

This is very limited profile of "the man up front" - our Airplane Commander, Bob Spaulding.

My wife. Olga, and I are here today to remember and honor my Air Force comrade. Though Olga never met him, she felt she knew him as well as I did, because over the past 47 years, she has heard the name "Spaulding" over and over and over again.

As I look back, many memories awaken - some amusing and some that weren't. For instance, there was the time he cut out three engines in the skies over Kansas just to determine what we could expect if a similar malfunction should occur later on.

Then there was the time we "buzzed" his hometown of Eagle Rock - shaking bricks from several chimneys in the area.

He even had the audacity to "buzz" the battleship, USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay at the signing of the Japanese surrendering. We were probably the only B-29 up there to do so.

And the memories go on. I recall his many trips back through the "tunnel" to feed us Benzedrine tablets by the handful to keep us awake and alert. He must have felt that we were a sleepy-eyed crew - and we were.

I remember too, when Bob would enter our Quonset hut on Guam in the darkness of early morning and blow that confounded police whistle to awaken us. This continued until one morning when someone threw a size 10 "G.I." shoe and struck him in the eye. For about a week or two, he sported one of the most brilliant "shiners" you have ever seen. Shortly after that Bob resigned this crew wake-up duty and turned it over to our Flight Engineer, Sgt. Glade Loy. I might add that Sgt. Loy discontinued the use of the police whistle.

There are many other fond memories that have stayed with me over the years. Incidents at Batista Field, Cuba, Oklahoma City, Bakersfield, and so many other places too numerous to mention. I'd be here for hours if I did.

In closing, the entire crew of the "Lord's Prayer" - Al Baldi, Ed Edmundson, Bud Folker, Herm Marthaler, Glade Loy, Jack Magirl, Stan Phillips, Bob Sands, Bud Alger, Mike Revock, and yours truly want to say … "Thanks for the memories, 'Skipper,' but more importantly, thanks for your competence, your keen judgment, and your unrelenting concern and love for your crew. We always felt you'd get us back safely - and you did. Your crew will never forget you.

You stepped forward when America faced its greatest peril and you served with distinction and dedication. Your country recognized your contribution by bestowing not one but two Distinguished Flying Crosses and a number of other decorations. Furthermore our 39th Bomb Group is proud to have received two Distinguished Unit Citations.

Somehow, I know that Bob is looking down on us here today and I can once again hear him say ….

          "Pilot to crew - carry on."

          And our reply to him is, "We hear you loud and clear Skipper."

And I feel that he will hear us too.

The above eulogy was written and given by Bob Laird, Crew 5 - Left Gunner - "Lord's Prayer"

Award of Distinguished Flying Cross
"The Search for Bob Spaulding and Its incredible Conclusion"