Robert L Spaulding - 1945

In early autumn of 1945, the combat crews of the 39th Bomb Group were hurriedly disbanded for return to Stateside. We the crew of "Lord's Prayer, " were ecstatic with the news that we would soon be going home. But the exhilaration of the moment was tempered by pangs sadness as we realized that many of us would never cross paths again. The bonds of comradeship that had rooted during the past few months would now be served as said our last goodbyes. Although Crew 5 would be widely scattered across America, the moments we had shared would be forever embedded in our memories.

During the post war years, several of the crew has managed to keep in touch with each other, namely Al Baldi, Mike Revock, Jack Magirl and Bob Laird. Others had communicated briefly but circumstances soon caused them to gradually loose touch.

Within the past three or four years a renewed interest in reuniting the remnants of our crew has emerged. This has happened, mainly, because of some exciting developments, one - we learned that that Jim Wyckoff was endeavoring to put together our first reunion in 45 years. At the same time, unknown to Jim, Bob Laird was putting together a book dealing with the 39th Bomb Group and Crew 5. Combined, these two events aroused a rebirth of interest and pride in our Group.

For these two reasons, I began to attempt to find the long-lost crew members of the "Lord's Prayer". Within a short time, we had succeeded in re-establishing contact with Ed Edmundson, Stan Phillips, Bud Agler and Bud Folker.

Sadly, two of our crew did not attend our first reunion at Omaha - namely Bud Folker and Jack Magirl. Jack had passed away about four years earlier and ironically, Bud had died in his sleep only three days after receiving my first letter to him in 14 years.

In 1991, Ed managed to find Herm Marthaler, our former Radar Specialist. This left Glade Loy, Bob Sands, and Bob Spaulding still unaccounted for. As of this writing, the whereabouts of Loy and Sands are still unknown.

The story of the search for our "Skipper", Bob Spaulding is one that culminates in a "stranger than fiction" conclusion.

My correspondence had suddenly ended a year or so after the war. At that time he was living in Eagle Rock, California and was working for an insurance company in the Los Angeles area. Surprisingly, my letters to him were returned by the Postal service marked "unknown".

Through the ensuring years I remained anxious to learn what had happened to Bob. Sporadically, I would renew my quest, but each time it was to no avail. There were rumors - the origin of which I was never able to determine - that he had re-entered the Air Force. It had even been suggested that he had flown in Korea and have been shot down there.

In or about 1986, while researching "Maximum Effort", I began a rejuvenated effort to located Bob as well as the other missing members of Crew 5. This involved letters of inquiry to anyone that might have clue to Bob's whereabouts.

There were contacts with the City Clerk of Eagle Rock, the "Eagle Rock Sentinel", the Air Force Locator File in San Antonio, as well as appeals to various Air Force and other military magazines. Many of these failed to respond and those that did were unable to unable to offer any information.

Inasmuch as the 20th Air Force reunion in Seattle was fast approaching, I was disheartened but still hopeful that some how I would be able to get in touch him in time for the affair. A sense of urgency prevailed.

It was at this point I became aware that, under certain conditions, a person could be traced through the Social Security system. I immediately made application to them and following a frustrating two-month process I received a call from Bob's wife, Fran. My letter to Bob had been forwarded.

But the news was shocking! My message had arrived at Bob's home on the previous Thursday - the day before her call Bob had died just two days before! After 47 years of searching, I had found and lost him within two days!

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