 Bob
Powell was born November 21, 1920 in the small coal-mining
town of Wilcoe, West Virginia. After graduating from Gary
High School in Gary, WV in 1938 (and becoming WV Golden
Gloves boxing champion), Powell attended West Virginia
University.
He entered the US Army Air Corps in January 1942 and
was called to active duty as an Aviation Cadet in March.
He received his primary flight training at Oxnard,
California in the PT-13B Stearman aircraft.
Powell was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant Pilot
Officer on Jan. 4 1943 and was transferred to England
in April 1943 and assigned to RTU at Atham, UK April
to August 1943 for additional training in P-47s.
Powell was then assigned to the 352nd Fighter Group
at Bodney, East Anglia, UK in August, 1943 and flew
87 combat missions with the 328th Squadron, 352nd including
two combat tours and 306 combat hours. Powell was credited
with six enemy aircraft destroyed, two probables and
seven damaged (air and ground) in support of ground
forces before and after D-Day. He flew two D-Day missions
over Normandy.
In December 1944, Powell returned to the US and was
assigned to the Flight Test Division at Wright-Patterson
AFB, Dayton, Ohio. He separated from service in August
1945 and returned to West Virginia University, where
he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism
in 1947. Powell was the founder of WVU’s Journaliers
Society; and a member of Mountain, an honorary men’s
fraternity at WVU.
After school, Powell was employed as a reporter/photographer
at the Roanoke, Virginia World News in July 1947. From
there, he was an Advertising Assistant for the Norfolk
and Western Railway in Roanoke, VA in January 1948,
and became Asst. Advertising Manager in Feb 1949.
Powell was recalled to active duty in the USAF in
January 1950 and was sent to Korea to fly the P-51
Mustang in July. He was then reassigned to Wright-Patterson
AFB in September 1950 as Pilot for the Air Force Exhibit
Group until 1952. He separated from service in August
1954.
 Powell’s many military awards include the Air
Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters; the Distinguished
Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters; the Presidential
Unit Citation; the ETO Medal with Four Battle Stars;
the French D-Day Medal; The Victory Medal and several
campaign medals.
Powell is one of the founders of the 352nd Air Force
Historical Society and member of the first Board of
Directors. He is also a member of the Spitfire Society,
the Silver Wings Fraternity and the Order of Daedalians.
He and his wife, Betty, have been married 62 years
and have three children, five grandchildren and two
great grandchildren.
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