Lieutenant Robert Boyce joined the Army Air Forces in 1941, and received his wings as a fighter pilot on November 3, 1943. He was transferred to helicopter duty, and served in the Pacific Theater, piloting B-29 parts from ship to island basis. Lt. Boyce was eventually stationed at Randolph Field, in San Marcos, Texas, where he served as a helicopter pilot instructor. He planned a future in commercial helicopter design and piloting, and was looking forward to life as a civilian. Lt. Boyce and two others died during an instructional flight, when their helicopter crashed shortly after taking off. He was 23.