Symposium Ace Panelist
Col. Robert L. Liles
Robert
Liles was born in Webb City, Missouri and left college to join the Army Air
Corps in November 1940 and finished his flight training at Kelly Field, Texas.
He was commissioned in July of 1941 and was assigned to the 77th Pursuit
Squadron of the 20th Pursuit Group.
In May 1942, Lt. Liles flew a P-40 Warhawk off the carrier USS Ranger to Accra, North Africa, and then ferried it to the 16th Fighter Squadron of the 51st Fighter Group in Karachi, India. He joined this Squadron and then later went to China with this Fighter Group and remained there until July of 1944.
Liles claimed a “probable” Japanese I-97 fighter on July 30th 1942 over Hengyang, China. He scored his first confirmed aerial victory over an Japanese Ki-43, “Oscar”, and claimed a second one as a “Probable” during a combat mission over Yunnan Yi Airdrome. Captain Liles continued his scoring on January 16th, 1943 by downing two more ‘Oscars”, again over Yunnan Yi, China. In July 1943, Major Liles became commanding officer of the 16th Fighter Squadron. On September 20th the Japanese sent over 30 bombers escorted by a very large force of Ki-43 Oscars to attack the American base at Kunming, China. Liles lead the 16th Fighter Squadron against this attacking force where he downed another Ki-43 along with a Japanese bomber as a “Probable”.
On December 18th, 1943 Liles continued to score against the Japanese by being credited with a “Sally” and “Oscar” as probables, and then damaged another “Sally” to conclude his scoring.
Bob Liles remained in various command and staff positions including command of the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing from 1966 to 1968 and retired as a Colonel in 1970.
Colonel Liles has 5 confirmed aerial victories, 5 probables, and 2 damaged Japanese aircraft to his credit. He named his P-40 Warhawk “Duke” after John Wayne the movie actor
Insignia of the 16th Fighter Squadron Insignia of the 51st Fighter Group
Robert Liles in the Cockpit of his P-40 "Duke" in China.
