Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1944 Lucky Bag:

Robert Bruce Harper

Bruce was living proof that good men do come out of the Corn State. He ran them dizzy at battalion basketball and taught them how to pull an ace out of the hole. That little white ball plunking into the cup knew “R. B.’s” ability at golf. Studies? Well, Bruce did not wear stars, but “les arbres” seldom saw him among their grim branches. He had the knack for dodging trouble, and rarely did the little man with the sword have a chance to scream, “Get that man’s name and initials.” Even women have not been able to confuse Bruce and destroy his quiet amiability.

---

The Class of 1944 was graduated in June 1943 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.

Loss

Bruce was lost when his FG-1D Corsair crashed near Naval Air Station Miami, Florida on February 20, 1946 while participating in night formation flying training.

Other Information

From a letter addressed to his parents:

Information which has now been received in this Bureau states that your son was pilot of a plane which crashed into the sea approximately fifteen miles from the Naval Air Station, Miami Morida, while on an authorized night division formation flight with six other planes. Prior to their arrival at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, your son was having difficulty keeping his proper position in the formation, and his plane made a sharp turn to the starboard, passed under the flight leader’s plane, and headed toward the sea. The flight leader attempted to contact him by radio, but was unsuccessful. Approximately one minute after your son left the formation, an explosion at sea, followed by a bright fire, was witnessed by all members of the flight. The crash was immediately reported to the Naval Air Station at Miami and a member of the flight remained in the area and orbited the scene of the crash. The aircraft from the Naval Air Station proceeded immediately to that location and searched an area of twenty square miles, and a dumbo from a Coast Guard Air Station searched an area of fifty square miles, without success. Crash boats were also despatched to the immediate area, but no trace of your son could be found. No debris or other evidence indicating that he survived had been sighted. To date, no further information has been received by the Navy Department concerning the fate of your son.

His precise wartime experience is unknown, but the “Gold Star Boys” caption indicates he served in the Pacific Theater from October 27, 1943 to October 19, 1944.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Robert’s father Donn was an attorney, mother Alice, and sisters Mary and Janet.

Bruce has a memorial in Graceland Cemetery in Creston, Iowa.

Photographs

From a page titled "Gold Star Boys;" no publication given. Source