Richard A. Knobloch

During World War II he participated in the Doolittle Raid. A member of the 17th Bombardment Group, he trained at Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina, and Eglin Field, Florida, for the raid on the Japanese homeland. He flew as the co-pilot of Crew 13, in B-25B Mitchell, AAF Ser. No. 40-2247, which bombed Yokosuka. The crew bailed out successfully near Poyang, China, within three miles of Japanese forces, but were not detected. Taken to Poyang by Chinese soldiers, they were recovered by way of Poyang Lake, Chuchow, bused to Hengyang and flown to Chungking.[4]

A delayed report from "a U.S. air base in northern India", carried by United Press on 2 October 1942, described the destruction of a strategic railway bridge in northwestern Burma by a "twin-engined American bomber", cutting the single Japanese line of communication to bases in that area.

The pilot, Lieut. Richard (Nobby) Knobloch [sic], of Fort Sheridan, Ill., dived the plane almost to the top of the bridge before the Bombardier Liet. Robert Sikes, of Breckenridge, Texas, released delayed action bombs which Knobloch [sic] said 'blew 'em to smithereens.'[5]

Following the war, he completed his bachelor's degree while on active duty and was subsequently assigned to 12th Air Force at March Field, California as Deputy Assistant Chief, Magterial. He transitioned to the U.S. Air Force in 1947 following its establishment as a separate service. He was later assigned to the Ninth Air Force and became Vice Commander of the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.

In 1957, he was assigned as the air attaché to the American Embassy in Rome, Italy. He returned to Washington in August 1960 for a year's postgraduate study at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair, Virginia. Following completion of his studies he served at The Pentagon, assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Air Force with the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and then as Chief, Officers Assignment Division, Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel.[3]

Knobloch served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel at Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces at Hickam AFB, Hawaii from June 1965 until September 1967, when be became PACAF's Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans.[3]

In 1960 he entered the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Later assignments include serving as Deputy Chief of Staff of Plans of Pacific Air Forces.[3] A USAF Command Pilot with over 4,200 flight hours, his retirement was effective as of 1 February 1970.[6]

Awards he received include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

His Distinguished Flying Cross citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Richard A. Knobloch, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Co-Pilot of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Lieutenant Knobloch with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.