Biography
Robert Henry Isely was born on Christmas Day 1909 in Cimarron, Kansas, and attended public schools in Dodge City, Kansas. In 1929, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and was graduated from that institution in 1933.
For the next four years, Lieutenant Isely served aboard various Naval war ships in the Pacific, Atlantic and Carribean areas. In 1937, he underwent aviation training at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a naval aviator in December of that same year.
By late 1943, Robert H. Isely had been promoted to the rank of Commander and was designated Commanding Officer of VT-16 (Torpedo Squadron), aboard the Carrier U.S.S. Lexington which was a part of Task Force 58. Over the next ten months, VT-16 carried out bombing raids against Japanese facilities at Tarawa, Wake, Kwajalein, Mille, Palau Truk and Hollandia. On June 13, 1944, Commander Isely led his squadron on a pre-invasion bombing attack against the Japanese airbase at Aslito on Saipan. While carrying out a low altitude bombing run, Commander Isely's TBF Avenger was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and crashed in flames at the south edge of the runway. In recognition of his supreme sacrifice, Following the capture of Saipan by U.S. forces, the former Japanese airbase at Aslito was renamed Isely Field in his honor. On June 13, 1994, 50 years after his crash, a Commemorative Plaque for Commander Robert H. Isely was dedicated at Saipan International Airport.
In 1985, the National Park Service designated Isely Field as a National Historic Landmark.
Commander Isely was posthumously awarded the following: Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 gold stars, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. (Fold3)
Robert Henry Isely was born on Christmas Day 1909 in Cimarron, Kansas, and attended public schools in Dodge City, Kansas. In 1929, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and was graduated from that institution in 1933.
For the next four years, Lieutenant Isely served aboard various Naval war ships in the Pacific, Atlantic and Carribean areas. In 1937, he underwent aviation training at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a naval aviator in December of that same year.
By late 1943, Robert H. Isely had been promoted to the rank of Commander and was designated Commanding Officer of VT-16 (Torpedo Squadron), aboard the Carrier U.S.S. Lexington which was a part of Task Force 58. Over the next ten months, VT-16 carried out bombing raids against Japanese facilities at Tarawa, Wake, Kwajalein, Mille, Palau Truk and Hollandia. On June 13, 1944, Commander Isely led his squadron on a pre-invasion bombing attack against the Japanese airbase at Aslito on Saipan. While carrying out a low altitude bombing run, Commander Isely's TBF Avenger was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and crashed in flames at the south edge of the runway. In recognition of his supreme sacrifice, Following the capture of Saipan by U.S. forces, the former Japanese airbase at Aslito was renamed Isely Field in his honor. On June 13, 1994, 50 years after his crash, a Commemorative Plaque for Commander Robert H. Isely was dedicated at Saipan International Airport.
In 1985, the National Park Service designated Isely Field as a National Historic Landmark.
Commander Isely was posthumously awarded the following: Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 gold stars, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. (Fold3)
Biography
Robert Henry Isely was born on Christmas Day 1909 in Cimarron, Kansas, and attended public schools in Dodge City, Kansas. In 1929, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and was graduated from that institution in 1933.
For the next four years, Lieutenant Isely served aboard various Naval war ships in the Pacific, Atlantic and Carribean areas. In 1937, he underwent aviation training at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a naval aviator in December of that same year.
By late 1943, Robert H. Isely had been promoted to the rank of Commander and was designated Commanding Officer of VT-16 (Torpedo Squadron), aboard the Carrier U.S.S. Lexington which was a part of Task Force 58. Over the next ten months, VT-16 carried out bombing raids against Japanese facilities at Tarawa, Wake, Kwajalein, Mille, Palau Truk and Hollandia. On June 13, 1944, Commander Isely led his squadron on a pre-invasion bombing attack against the Japanese airbase at Aslito on Saipan. While carrying out a low altitude bombing run, Commander Isely's TBF Avenger was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and crashed in flames at the south edge of the runway. In recognition of his supreme sacrifice, Following the capture of Saipan by U.S. forces, the former Japanese airbase at Aslito was renamed Isely Field in his honor. On June 13, 1994, 50 years after his crash, a Commemorative Plaque for Commander Robert H. Isely was dedicated at Saipan International Airport.
In 1985, the National Park Service designated Isely Field as a National Historic Landmark.
Commander Isely was posthumously awarded the following: Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 gold stars, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. (Fold3)
Robert Henry Isely was born on Christmas Day 1909 in Cimarron, Kansas, and attended public schools in Dodge City, Kansas. In 1929, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and was graduated from that institution in 1933.
For the next four years, Lieutenant Isely served aboard various Naval war ships in the Pacific, Atlantic and Carribean areas. In 1937, he underwent aviation training at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a naval aviator in December of that same year.
By late 1943, Robert H. Isely had been promoted to the rank of Commander and was designated Commanding Officer of VT-16 (Torpedo Squadron), aboard the Carrier U.S.S. Lexington which was a part of Task Force 58. Over the next ten months, VT-16 carried out bombing raids against Japanese facilities at Tarawa, Wake, Kwajalein, Mille, Palau Truk and Hollandia. On June 13, 1944, Commander Isely led his squadron on a pre-invasion bombing attack against the Japanese airbase at Aslito on Saipan. While carrying out a low altitude bombing run, Commander Isely's TBF Avenger was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and crashed in flames at the south edge of the runway. In recognition of his supreme sacrifice, Following the capture of Saipan by U.S. forces, the former Japanese airbase at Aslito was renamed Isely Field in his honor. On June 13, 1994, 50 years after his crash, a Commemorative Plaque for Commander Robert H. Isely was dedicated at Saipan International Airport.
In 1985, the National Park Service designated Isely Field as a National Historic Landmark.
Commander Isely was posthumously awarded the following: Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 gold stars, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. (Fold3)
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New York.
Family Members
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