Personnel

Robert Spangler 

351st Squadron 

Died: Oct. 15, 2018



Bob was the legendary Line Chief, serving under Bill Carleton, 351st Engineering Officer. Prior to his assignment to the 100th BG, before the 8th AF existed, Bob was working on early model B-17s in the 29th BG.  Dewey Christopher, Ground Crew Chief in 351st Squadron, remembers Bob for his problem-solving skills, his depth of knowledge regarding all aspects of B-17 maintenance, electronics and electrical systems.  One of Dewey’s stories of Bob, shared through his son, Gary: 

“One afternoon during the group’s earlier months at Thorpe Abbotts, a number of B-17s were returning from a mission and one pilot reported that his landing gear would not come down even after trying the emergency manual hand-crank system. The pilot successfully belly-landed the Fortress with no crew injuries, and the support staff from the 456th Sub Depot began their routine of placing air bags under the aircraft to lift it up for repair. Group Engineering officer, Major Rovegno, was standing with Bob Spangler, watching events unfold when Bob commented, ‘Major, I was reading a technical bulletin recently and it mentioned that some of these Lockheed-Vega B-17s have an emergency landing gear crank that has to be rotated opposite the normal direction.’ With that, Major Rovegno sprinted over to the stricken aircraft, scrambled aboard and immediately began cranking the emergency gear handle in the opposite-from-normal direction. Sure enough, the landing gear deployed as it should. From that point on, Bob Spangler was Major Rovegno’s ‘go to guy’ whenever an unusual or perplexing maintenance issue came up.”

Robert E. Spangler died October 15, 2018 

He was a resident of the Emery L. Bennett Veterans Nursing home, Daytona Beach, Florida at the time of his death. All arrangements were handled by Hooper Funeral Home in Inverness. There will not be any service. He was a member of Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church, Lecanto, FL. Robert had placed his faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ alone many years ago, so there is not any question as to where he is residing today. 

Robert was born February 23, 1921 in Manheim, Pennsylvania. He was the first person in his family to complete high school. He entered the Army Air Force on February 7, 1940, prior to World War II with his fathers written consent. He took training in aircraft maintenance. 

After the war started, he was assigned to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. He was there when they were putting in the runways. His girlfriend came down to visit him, and on January 6, 1942 they were married in Tampa by a Presbyterian Minister without any family present. He told his wife Florence, " I don't know where I am going". He was without a doubt one of America's greatest generations. His wife Florence E. Spangler died June 12, 2004. They did not have any children. 

Robert served with the 100th Bomb Group, 351 st Squadron, Eighth Air Force in England during the War. The losses in the Eighth Air Force were horrible. He held the rank of Master Sergeant and had eighty men under him repairing B-17 Bomber Aircraft. 

After the war, he worked for Pan American Airlines in Miami, Florida. His job with Pan Am was aircraft electrician. Upon his retirement, he and his wife Florence moved to Inverness, Florida. His wife Florence had a severe stroke and required lots of care. He never forgot his marriage vows, "for better or worse, in sickness and in health." He took care of her at home, giving the finest of care for several years before she died. 

They would attend the Saturday night service at Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church, and then they would attend the First Baptist Church Rutland, Florida Sunday morning. First Baptist was a small congregation and his wife needed that in her physical condition. 

Robert is survived by a nephew Rodney Spangler of West Columbia, S.C. And a niece Doris Shenenberger of Lititz, Pennsylvania. 

Matthew 5:3 

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Published in Citrus County Chronicle on Oct. 28, 2018