Robert O. Stern

Robert O Stern

Born: Dec 26, 1923

After graduating high school, my father enlisted in the U.S. Army and survived the invasion of Normandy (2nd wave) and several other major actions throughout the war in Europe. Returning home from the war, he learned and mastered the skills of ‘Pattern Maker’ where he worked in a shop that created pattern plates for many unique/intricate items. He was married for 74 years, had three children, and was a wonderful father/father-in-law and grandfather/great-grandfather.

Airplanes were his passion. He built and flew remote control gliders and planes. He always loved going to any of the local airshows where he could tell you the name of every type of airplane out there. He also read everything that he could about airplanes, especially planes from the WWll era. That interest was enhanced even more while on a trip with us to the National Museum of the US Airforce in Dayton, Ohio, and the nation’s capital, where he visited the National Air and Space museums and, of course, all the memorials. Special thanks to my husband, he was able to go through the 'behind the scenes restoration building' and saw where all the magic took place at the Udvar-Hazy Center. Though he was never able to become a pilot himself, he was able to fly in Bob Love’s restored P-51 Warbird, and our friends beautifully restored Lockheed L-12 Electra Jr., Beechcraft D-17 S Staggerwing, and their fun Citabria.

Sadly, my father passed in November 2021, but we know he's up in that 'great hanger in the sky'. He would be extremely proud to know his name is now engraved on this beautiful Wall of Honor.