His obituary from the September 23, 1970 Brownsburg Guide:
Robert L. Klingler, 49, died suddenly Monday evening, September 21, at his home at R. R. 2 Plainfield. Mr. Klingler was a high school teacher at Monrovia. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is survived by three children, Mrs. Jean R. Boyden, Danville, Roberta and Jane Klingler, both of Avon. Also surviving are three grandchildren. He was the brother of Paul Klingler and Kenneth Klingler, both of Clay City, Indiana, Ray Klingler of Chile, South America and Mrs. Ruth Liechty, Terre Haute. Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Jones and Matthews Mortuary, Brownburg.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Robert Lee Klingler, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron SIX (VF-6), in action over Kagoshima Bay, Island of Kyushu, Japan, on 29 March 1945. With outstanding skill and courage Lieutenant Klingler led a four plane fighter division on a rescue combat air patrol to protect the life of another pilot forced down in Kagoshim Bay, Kyushu Japan and kept his division over the downed the downed pilot for two hours in spite of enemy fighter plane opposition, heavy anti-aircraft fire and the proximity of ten Japanese airfields including a substantial Naval Air Base at Kanoya, only five miles away. He led his division in an attack upon eight Japanese fighter planes, as a result of which his division shot down a minimum of five enemy aircraft, during the action, he shot down two enemy fighter planes which were making runs on other planes of his division. As a result of his leadership and heroism, five enemy planes were destroyed and a successful rescue effected of the downed pilot from the inland waters of Japan. His shill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Robert L. Klingler, 49, died suddenly Monday evening, September 21, at his home at R. R. 2 Plainfield. Mr. Klingler was a high school teacher at Monrovia. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is survived by three children, Mrs. Jean R. Boyden, Danville, Roberta and Jane Klingler, both of Avon. Also surviving are three grandchildren. He was the brother of Paul Klingler and Kenneth Klingler, both of Clay City, Indiana, Ray Klingler of Chile, South America and Mrs. Ruth Liechty, Terre Haute. Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Jones and Matthews Mortuary, Brownburg.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Robert Lee Klingler, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron SIX (VF-6), in action over Kagoshima Bay, Island of Kyushu, Japan, on 29 March 1945. With outstanding skill and courage Lieutenant Klingler led a four plane fighter division on a rescue combat air patrol to protect the life of another pilot forced down in Kagoshim Bay, Kyushu Japan and kept his division over the downed the downed pilot for two hours in spite of enemy fighter plane opposition, heavy anti-aircraft fire and the proximity of ten Japanese airfields including a substantial Naval Air Base at Kanoya, only five miles away. He led his division in an attack upon eight Japanese fighter planes, as a result of which his division shot down a minimum of five enemy aircraft, during the action, he shot down two enemy fighter planes which were making runs on other planes of his division. As a result of his leadership and heroism, five enemy planes were destroyed and a successful rescue effected of the downed pilot from the inland waters of Japan. His shill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
His obituary from the September 23, 1970 Brownsburg Guide:
Robert L. Klingler, 49, died suddenly Monday evening, September 21, at his home at R. R. 2 Plainfield. Mr. Klingler was a high school teacher at Monrovia. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is survived by three children, Mrs. Jean R. Boyden, Danville, Roberta and Jane Klingler, both of Avon. Also surviving are three grandchildren. He was the brother of Paul Klingler and Kenneth Klingler, both of Clay City, Indiana, Ray Klingler of Chile, South America and Mrs. Ruth Liechty, Terre Haute. Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Jones and Matthews Mortuary, Brownburg.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Robert Lee Klingler, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron SIX (VF-6), in action over Kagoshima Bay, Island of Kyushu, Japan, on 29 March 1945. With outstanding skill and courage Lieutenant Klingler led a four plane fighter division on a rescue combat air patrol to protect the life of another pilot forced down in Kagoshim Bay, Kyushu Japan and kept his division over the downed the downed pilot for two hours in spite of enemy fighter plane opposition, heavy anti-aircraft fire and the proximity of ten Japanese airfields including a substantial Naval Air Base at Kanoya, only five miles away. He led his division in an attack upon eight Japanese fighter planes, as a result of which his division shot down a minimum of five enemy aircraft, during the action, he shot down two enemy fighter planes which were making runs on other planes of his division. As a result of his leadership and heroism, five enemy planes were destroyed and a successful rescue effected of the downed pilot from the inland waters of Japan. His shill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Robert L. Klingler, 49, died suddenly Monday evening, September 21, at his home at R. R. 2 Plainfield. Mr. Klingler was a high school teacher at Monrovia. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is survived by three children, Mrs. Jean R. Boyden, Danville, Roberta and Jane Klingler, both of Avon. Also surviving are three grandchildren. He was the brother of Paul Klingler and Kenneth Klingler, both of Clay City, Indiana, Ray Klingler of Chile, South America and Mrs. Ruth Liechty, Terre Haute. Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Jones and Matthews Mortuary, Brownburg.
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Robert Lee Klingler, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron SIX (VF-6), in action over Kagoshima Bay, Island of Kyushu, Japan, on 29 March 1945. With outstanding skill and courage Lieutenant Klingler led a four plane fighter division on a rescue combat air patrol to protect the life of another pilot forced down in Kagoshim Bay, Kyushu Japan and kept his division over the downed the downed pilot for two hours in spite of enemy fighter plane opposition, heavy anti-aircraft fire and the proximity of ten Japanese airfields including a substantial Naval Air Base at Kanoya, only five miles away. He led his division in an attack upon eight Japanese fighter planes, as a result of which his division shot down a minimum of five enemy aircraft, during the action, he shot down two enemy fighter planes which were making runs on other planes of his division. As a result of his leadership and heroism, five enemy planes were destroyed and a successful rescue effected of the downed pilot from the inland waters of Japan. His shill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Inscription
Robert Lee Klinger
Lt US Navy World War II
Jan 23 1921 ✟ Sep 21 1970
Navy Cross
Gravesite Details
His death certificate indicates Plainfield as death location (due to mailing address) but was actually in Avon. Navy Cross Citation provided by BarryC 47806468.
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