Lt. Robert W Kleinhelter was the Navigator in the Parks flight Crew. The Parks crew was one of the original 12 flight crews in the 392nd Bombardment Squadron. They flew their first missions from Canton in the Phoenix Islands. Among their targets were Wotje, Mille, Jaluit, and Maloelap.

From the History of the 392nd Bombardment Squadron:

"On the 28th of December [1944], six planes of our squadron were over Maloelap again. Two others that took off turned back because of mechanical difficulties. The six that bombed Taroa experienced the usual intense A/A and were intercepted by ten to twelve enemy fighters. In the fight with the enemy fighters, T/Sgt Paul Ingalls, photographer on A/P #42-72965, was killed by a 20 MM shell, and Lt. Woodrow W. Davis, co-pilot of A/P #42-72985, was wounded, also by a 20 MM shell that exploded in the cockpit. A/P #985 had both #3 and #4 engines shot out by A/A, and was immediately jumped by five or six fighters, which concentrated their attacks on the crippled plane. The fact that Lt. Keith C. Parks, pilot of A/P #985, flew his plane to land safely at Tarawa despite the loss of No. 3 and 4 engines and a wounded co-pilot, shows a great amount of fortitude and flying skill on the part of this pilot and due appreciation was voiced by his crew members and also the other squadron members who flew on this mission. "

In January 1944 they moved their base of operations to Apamama in the Gilbert Islands. Then in Mar 1944 they moved to Kwajalein, from which they bombed Saipan and Truk. In April 1944 the Parks crew was assigned to the 38th Bombardment Squadron. They finished their required 30 missions in June 1944 and were sent back to the US for rest and re-assignment.

The members of the Parks flight crew were:

Keith C Parks (Pilot)

Woodrow W Davis (Co-Pilot)

Robert W Kleinhelter (Navigator)

Cyril H Kalkman (Bombardier)

Charles E Green (Engineer)

Joseph M Serena (Radio Operator)

Carl J Poppe (Ass't Radio Operator)

John A Downs (Gunner)

Harry Siegel (Tail Gunner)

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Indianapolis.IN.News.04.May.1944

Hoosier Helps Repair Plane in Air After Battle

Lieutenant Robert W. Kleinhelter. son of Mr. and Mrs. William T. Kleinhelter. R. R. 15, Box 678-D, navigator on a Liberator bomber, had an exciting five hours along with other crew members recently when the plane's landing gear was shot out of operation during a bombing expedition in the Marshall islands. The heavy bomber, piloted by First Lieutenant Keith C. Parks. Spokane. Wash., was one of a group intercepted by nearly fifty Japanese fighters and in the process of fighting off the enemy planes the hydraulic system, which operates the landing gear, was knocked out and large holes ripped in the fluid reservoir. For five hours crew members feverishly fitted pieces together. Then they poured everything fluid into the patched-up hydraulic system and finally when the base air-strip lights came into view-through the low-hanging clouds, the bomber crew was ready to test the workmanship of the repair. Breaths were held while Lieut. Parks pulled the lever — but the job had been well-done — and the wheels dropped slowly into place. And a few moments later a safe landing was made.

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Santa.Cruz.CA.Sentinel.22.Mar.1944

Japs Guided Bombers To Truk Bastion

By Charles P. Arnot

United Press War Correspondent

U. S. Army Headquarters, Central Pacific, March 22 — Huge flood lights under which Japanese laborers were working feverishly to repair the damage inflicted by carrier-based navy planes last month guided Liberators to a new attack on Truk early last Wednesday, army airmen reported today. The first wave of army heavy bombers took the Japanese on Dublon island, site of the enemy’s major Truk installations, completely by surprise. Lt. Alvin L. Larson of Osage City, Kans., pilot of one of the first Liberators over the target, said he spotted the floodlights many miles away and had dropped all his bombs before they began going out. S'Sgt. Carl J. Poppe of 909 N. Garfield avenue, Alhambra, Calif., nose gunner on the last bomber over the target, saw four huge tires enveloping a storage area adjacent to the town of Dublon, which appeared to be about 20,000 population.

Second Lieut. Rodney C. Clare of 1000 Virginia drive, Bellflower, Calif., Larson's bombardier, said he picked out the biggest group of floodlights and “let ’em have it." Larson said one of his bombs hurled debris 2000 feet into the air, starting fires that looked like a huge gasoline, oil or perhaps ammunition dump was hit. The pilot and his crew are veterans of 18 missions.

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Missions the Park crew flew from Apamama:

Date/Target: 1 Feb 1944 - Kwajalein Island -----Airplane B-24: Bombs Lullaby, #42-72988

Date/Target: 8 Feb 1944 - Wotje Island -----Airplane B-24: Bombs Lullaby, #42-72988

Date/Target: 14 Feb 1944 - Ponape Island -----Airplane B-24: Bombs Lullaby, #42-72988

Date/Target: 17 Feb 1944 - Kusaie Island -----Airplane B-24: Bombs Lullaby, #42-72988

Date/Target: 21 Feb 1944 - Ponape Island -----Airplane B-24: Patriotic Patty, #42-73494

Date/Target: 23 Feb 1944 - Kusaie Island -----Airplane B-24: Patriotic Patty, #42-73494

Date/Target: 29 Feb 1944 - Mille Island -----Airplane B-24: Patriotic Patty, #42-73494

Missions the Parks crew flew from Kwajalein

Date/Target: 7 Mar 1944 - Jaluit Island -----Airplane B-24: Patriotic Patty, #42-73494 :

Date/Target: 15 Mar 1944 - Truk Atoll -----Airplane B-24: Patriotic Patty, #42-73494

Date/Target: 5 Apr 1944 - Wake Island -----Airplane B-24: Patriotic Patty, #42-73494

Date/Target: 17 Apr 1944 - Saipan Island -----Airplane B-24: Patriotic Patty, #42-73494

Date/Target: 24 Apr 1944 - Guam Island -----Airplane B-24: Patriotic Patty, #42-73494

Date/Target: 26 Apr 1944 - Ponape Island -----Airplane B-24: Patriotic Patty, #42-73494

Date/Target: 29 Apr 1944 - Truk Atoll -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

Date/Target: 1 May 1944 - Trul Atoll -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

Date/Target: 4 May 1944 - Ponape Town, Ponape Island -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

Date/Target: 6 May 1944 - Truk Atoll -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

Date/Target: 11 May 1944 - Wake Island -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

Date/Target: 13 May 1944 - Taroa Island, Maleolap Atoll -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

Date/Target: 14 May 1944 - Jaluit Island -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

Date/Target: 22 May 1944 - Wotje Island -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

Date/Target: 28 May 1944 - Ponape Island -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

Date/Target: 31 May 1944 - Wake Island -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

Date/Target: 4 Jun 1944 - Truk Atoll -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

Date/Target: 11 Jun 1944 - Truk Atoll -----Airplane B-24: Duckin Ducklin, #42-72971

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More information about the 30th Bombardment Group:

30th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

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