Bob Galer, USMC Pilot, MOH, 1913-2005

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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Robert Galer, a USMC pilot during WWII with 13 confirmed victories and 4 probables, a member of the ‘Cactus Air Force’ and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the battle for Guadalcanal passed away yesterday.

It’s being said all over the place by many folks, but you can never say it too often… if you meet a vet, shake their hand and say thanks…

You can read more about Bob Galer HERE…

You can see one modeler’s interpretation of his Wildcat HERE…

You can read more about the ‘Cactus Air Force’ HERE…

Here’s a cool online article on the National Park Service website…

TIME OF THE ACES: Marine Pilots in the Solomons

Bob Galer is mentioned in this article, and an image showing he and his Wildcat can be found on the page titled, ‘Other Marine Aces’.

Fade to Black…

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damn taht’s too bad. I wish i’d have been born earlier so I could truly appreciate these fantastic gentlemen

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Yesterday was the first dutch national veterans day, in honor of al our veterans.
Not only those from WWII but also Indonesia, Korea, peace keeping missions in bosnia, cambodia etc.

So I did was apropiate, I called my granddad and congratulated/thanked him on this special day.

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My father was with the First Marines at Guadalcanel. He went in with the first wave and stayed there to the end. He told me a lot about the brave crews of Henderson field.

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He’ll be missed.

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I had read about his passing earlier. Very sad indeed and just like Steve mentioned, please shake the hand of a Vet and say thank you…
Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends… Semper Fi…
Flaps up, Mike

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Sad to see so many of our Greatest Generation leaving us. He will be missed by many.

Regards, Rick

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Another true “Hero” goes to the big hangar in the sky. May the good Lord forever guard and guide him and provide a tailwind. (to the sound of taps)

Darwin, O.F. [alien]

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HIGH FLIGHT

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air …

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew -

And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

  • Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr., RCAF
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Like all who served in his era, he is an inspiration and will be fondly remembered and sorely missed. I am a vet of the USAF “ODS”, although nothing I ever did could compare with what they did. Thank God they did what they had to do.[angel]

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Another ordinary hero gone -
Very few of them believe themselves to be exceptional - they were just ordinary men in an extraordinary situation - but they did what they had to do and got the job done.
Would I have been able to do the same job? I simply cannot say.
I salute all of these “ordinary men” who achieved the extraordinary - because they were asked to.
When they’re all gone, our lives will be all the poorer for their passing.

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Thanks Steve for posting that very complete posting on Galer, and other USMC aces in the pacific. Its too bad that many of us have never heard of these brave vets until after their death. Keep up the good work Steve.

T.Young
MSgt. Ret. USAF [8-]

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Read it in the paper yesterday, Hated to see him go. If you get a chance to read his bio do so, the guy lead a very interesting life.

Thad

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Semper Fi Marine! Fair Winds and Following Seas…

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I especially liked the part about his son telling him he was an enemy ace. You know that guy proves the point that if at first you dont succeede, try crash and try again!

A true American Hero!

Ric