Lt. Col. Robert Lowell "Bob" Hite, was born on March 3, 1920 in Odell, TX to Robert and Lena Hite.
Bob was a Military Aviator. One of "Doolittle's Raiders" and was the co-pilot of B-25 bombers dubbed the "Bat Out of Hell" After extensive short takeoff, low altitude bombing and night training at Wagner Field near Valparaiso, Florida, As part of the attack on mainland Japan designed to avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, four months earlier. Prior to the planned location, the carrier was discovered by the Japanese. With the element of surprise likely lost, the decision was made to launch the planes immediately. The two hundred extra miles added to the mission would critically impact the ability to get the planes on to the intended bases in China to land. The crew made successful bombing runs on the Mitsubishi Aircraft Works and Matsuhigecho oil warehouse then turned toward China hoping for the best. The crew was forced to ditch the plane over China near enemy-held territory and, within hours, Hite, pilot Lieutenant William G. Farrow, navigator Lieutenant George Barr, bombardier Corporal Jacob DeShazer, and engineer gunner Sergeant Harold A. Spatz were officially prisoners of war. He would spend most of the next three and a half years in the Shanghai War Prisoners Camp in Shanghai, China. While Farrow and Spatz were executed, Bob was held in solitary confinement, tortured and starved until Hite, Barr, and DeShazer were liberated by American troops on August 20, 1945. Bob married the love of his life Portia in 1946. He remained on active duty until September 30, 1947. He returned to active duty during the Korean War on March 9, 1951 and served overseas before retiring from active duty again in November, 1955. Bob moved his family to Camden to manage the Camden Hotel until 1965. Bob went on to manage Holiday Inns until retiring to Enid, Oklahoma. In 1984 Bob and Portia moved back to Camden to be closer to family.
Bob received many decorations that included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and Chinese Breast Order of Pao Ting. The Doolittle Raiders were recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal which will be presented to them on April 15, 2015. Bob was also inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame. Bob of Camden, AR died at the age of 95 Sunday, March 29, 2015 in Nashville, TN. Funeral services will be Thursday, April 02, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Camden with burial following in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Bob was a Military Aviator. One of "Doolittle's Raiders" and was the co-pilot of B-25 bombers dubbed the "Bat Out of Hell" After extensive short takeoff, low altitude bombing and night training at Wagner Field near Valparaiso, Florida, As part of the attack on mainland Japan designed to avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, four months earlier. Prior to the planned location, the carrier was discovered by the Japanese. With the element of surprise likely lost, the decision was made to launch the planes immediately. The two hundred extra miles added to the mission would critically impact the ability to get the planes on to the intended bases in China to land. The crew made successful bombing runs on the Mitsubishi Aircraft Works and Matsuhigecho oil warehouse then turned toward China hoping for the best. The crew was forced to ditch the plane over China near enemy-held territory and, within hours, Hite, pilot Lieutenant William G. Farrow, navigator Lieutenant George Barr, bombardier Corporal Jacob DeShazer, and engineer gunner Sergeant Harold A. Spatz were officially prisoners of war. He would spend most of the next three and a half years in the Shanghai War Prisoners Camp in Shanghai, China. While Farrow and Spatz were executed, Bob was held in solitary confinement, tortured and starved until Hite, Barr, and DeShazer were liberated by American troops on August 20, 1945. Bob married the love of his life Portia in 1946. He remained on active duty until September 30, 1947. He returned to active duty during the Korean War on March 9, 1951 and served overseas before retiring from active duty again in November, 1955. Bob moved his family to Camden to manage the Camden Hotel until 1965. Bob went on to manage Holiday Inns until retiring to Enid, Oklahoma. In 1984 Bob and Portia moved back to Camden to be closer to family.
Bob received many decorations that included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and Chinese Breast Order of Pao Ting. The Doolittle Raiders were recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal which will be presented to them on April 15, 2015. Bob was also inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame. Bob of Camden, AR died at the age of 95 Sunday, March 29, 2015 in Nashville, TN. Funeral services will be Thursday, April 02, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Camden with burial following in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Lt. Col. Robert Lowell "Bob" Hite, was born on March 3, 1920 in Odell, TX to Robert and Lena Hite.
Bob was a Military Aviator. One of "Doolittle's Raiders" and was the co-pilot of B-25 bombers dubbed the "Bat Out of Hell" After extensive short takeoff, low altitude bombing and night training at Wagner Field near Valparaiso, Florida, As part of the attack on mainland Japan designed to avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, four months earlier. Prior to the planned location, the carrier was discovered by the Japanese. With the element of surprise likely lost, the decision was made to launch the planes immediately. The two hundred extra miles added to the mission would critically impact the ability to get the planes on to the intended bases in China to land. The crew made successful bombing runs on the Mitsubishi Aircraft Works and Matsuhigecho oil warehouse then turned toward China hoping for the best. The crew was forced to ditch the plane over China near enemy-held territory and, within hours, Hite, pilot Lieutenant William G. Farrow, navigator Lieutenant George Barr, bombardier Corporal Jacob DeShazer, and engineer gunner Sergeant Harold A. Spatz were officially prisoners of war. He would spend most of the next three and a half years in the Shanghai War Prisoners Camp in Shanghai, China. While Farrow and Spatz were executed, Bob was held in solitary confinement, tortured and starved until Hite, Barr, and DeShazer were liberated by American troops on August 20, 1945. Bob married the love of his life Portia in 1946. He remained on active duty until September 30, 1947. He returned to active duty during the Korean War on March 9, 1951 and served overseas before retiring from active duty again in November, 1955. Bob moved his family to Camden to manage the Camden Hotel until 1965. Bob went on to manage Holiday Inns until retiring to Enid, Oklahoma. In 1984 Bob and Portia moved back to Camden to be closer to family.
Bob received many decorations that included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and Chinese Breast Order of Pao Ting. The Doolittle Raiders were recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal which will be presented to them on April 15, 2015. Bob was also inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame. Bob of Camden, AR died at the age of 95 Sunday, March 29, 2015 in Nashville, TN. Funeral services will be Thursday, April 02, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Camden with burial following in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Bob was a Military Aviator. One of "Doolittle's Raiders" and was the co-pilot of B-25 bombers dubbed the "Bat Out of Hell" After extensive short takeoff, low altitude bombing and night training at Wagner Field near Valparaiso, Florida, As part of the attack on mainland Japan designed to avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, four months earlier. Prior to the planned location, the carrier was discovered by the Japanese. With the element of surprise likely lost, the decision was made to launch the planes immediately. The two hundred extra miles added to the mission would critically impact the ability to get the planes on to the intended bases in China to land. The crew made successful bombing runs on the Mitsubishi Aircraft Works and Matsuhigecho oil warehouse then turned toward China hoping for the best. The crew was forced to ditch the plane over China near enemy-held territory and, within hours, Hite, pilot Lieutenant William G. Farrow, navigator Lieutenant George Barr, bombardier Corporal Jacob DeShazer, and engineer gunner Sergeant Harold A. Spatz were officially prisoners of war. He would spend most of the next three and a half years in the Shanghai War Prisoners Camp in Shanghai, China. While Farrow and Spatz were executed, Bob was held in solitary confinement, tortured and starved until Hite, Barr, and DeShazer were liberated by American troops on August 20, 1945. Bob married the love of his life Portia in 1946. He remained on active duty until September 30, 1947. He returned to active duty during the Korean War on March 9, 1951 and served overseas before retiring from active duty again in November, 1955. Bob moved his family to Camden to manage the Camden Hotel until 1965. Bob went on to manage Holiday Inns until retiring to Enid, Oklahoma. In 1984 Bob and Portia moved back to Camden to be closer to family.
Bob received many decorations that included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, and Chinese Breast Order of Pao Ting. The Doolittle Raiders were recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal which will be presented to them on April 15, 2015. Bob was also inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame. Bob of Camden, AR died at the age of 95 Sunday, March 29, 2015 in Nashville, TN. Funeral services will be Thursday, April 02, 2015 at 11:00 AM at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Camden with burial following in Memorial Park Cemetery.
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