Robert J. Mohler

Decorated Navy Commander & WWII Dive Bomber Pilot

“AN OFFICER & GENTLEMAN” : His Life Chronology (1918 to 2012)

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• Robert J. Mohler (Bob) was born in North Canton, Ohio on January 7, 1918

• Bob was youngest of 4 children born of John B. & Charlotte Mohler of North Canton, Ohio (His 3 older Sisters: Florence, Grace & Ruth).

• Bob first met his future wife Marjorie Jane Evans accidently when she joined her parents John & Mary Evans in a drive south from Akron, Ohio with her sister Mary (& Emma Jenkins who was a relative of John & Charlotte Mohler) in North Canton. Bob, home for a brief visit, spotted Margie (a beautiful young redhead), and whisked her off to a movie with permission from both sets of their parents.

• Bob was a graduate of Ohio State University in 1939, but there was no work for engineers at the time, so he became a professional photographer instead, owning his own photography studio in North Canton, Ohio. (World War was imminent).

• Bob enlisted in the Navy as a Seaman 2nd Class in Akron, Ohio on March 29, 1941 .

• Bob was “trained to fly” as an Aviation Cadet, in a Stearman N3N “Yellow Peril” Bi-plane at Grosse Isle Navy Base in Michigan (March thru May, 1941). The Navy then transferred Bob to Pensacola, Florida, for advanced flight training.

• At Pensacola, Florida, the Navy further trained Bob in naval flying, where he flew the SNJ Naval Trainer, where he obtained his “WINGS”, graduating as an Ensign.

• Bob’s girlfriend Marjorie was able to see Bob again while joining his parents John & Charlotte, who had driven down from Ohio, with her as a willing passenger, to see their son graduate from Navy Flight School in Pensacola, Florida.

• The Navy then trained Bob to fly fighter planes at Naval training in Miami, Florida, where he learned Combat Tactics while flying the new Douglas scout-bomber fighter, named the “Dauntless”SBD (from Oct. 1941 to Dec. 1941) .

• During this period, the USA declared WAR on Japan, following the Pearl Harbor, Hawaii attack on the US Naval Fleet on Dec. 7, 1941.

• Bob continued his Pilot training at Norfolk, Virginia, where he learned “Advanced Aircraft Carrier landing & take-off training” (both on land and on ship) from (Jan. to March 1942). By then he had been promoted to (Navy Ensign).

• The Navy assigned Ensign Mohler to the Aircraft Carrier “WASP” (CV-7) in Norfolk, Virginia in March, 1942 (He was later promoted to Navy Lieutenant) .

• ACTION ON THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER “WASP” IN 1942 (Lt. Mohler’s participation):

- March 26: WASP sailed to Europe to transport British Spitfire Fighters to Malta.

- June 6: WASP departed Norfolk, Va. via Panama Canal to San Diego, CA (June 19).

- July 1: WASP departed San Diego to Tongo Islands in South Pacific to help escort convoy of five troop-transports filled with 2nd Marine Regiment combat Marines.

- July 4th: The Japanese landed on Guadalcanal island in Solomon Island chain, causing allied concerns that the critical island location would hamper US & Allied military action in S. Pacific. Allies took immediate steps to regain Guadalcanal.

- July, 1942: WASP (CV-7) joined carriers Saratoga (CV-3) & Enterprise (CV-6) as 3- carrier task force to provide air support for the invasion of Guadalcanal. The 3 carriers practiced day & night maneuvers to prepare for the US Marine invasion.

- July 17: Bob flew his SBD from WASP to Tongatabu island for island support.

- August 6: WASP, supported by San Francisco (CA-38) & Salt Lake City (CA-25) and 4 Destroyer escorts were stationed 80 miles off island Tulagi for air-support for the Guadalcanal campaign to commence the next day. The WASP & support ships were assigned specific targets on: Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo, Halavo, Port Purvis, Haleta, Bungana, and enemy radio station dubbed “Asses Ears”.

- (Cont. on next page):

- August 6 (Continued):

- In their first air-combat in the Solomon Islands: F4F Fighters & SBD bombers from the WASP struck Japanese Seaplane squadrons on Tamambogo island, destroying 15 Kawanishi Flying Boats, 7 Nakajima Floatplane fighters & 4-eng. flying boat.

- August 7: US Marines & allies commence their invasion of Guadalcanal. (10,000 US Marines & allied soldiers were put ashore that day). F4F Fighters from the WASP engaged in air combat with Japanese Zeros off the island of Mbangi.

- August 8: Guadalcanal’s Henderson Airfield was mostly secured by US & allies.

- Remainder of August, 1942: WASP provided air-cover for convoys & resupply units headed for Guadalcanal. As other carriers were sunk or damaged by combat, only WASP (CV-7) and HORNET (CV-8) remained active in the Solomons.

- September, 1942: WASP continued air-support in Solomons, off Guadalcanal:

- September 15: The WASP & HORNET carriers were 150 miles southeast of the Solomons, “escorting” transports carrying the 7th Marine Regiment as fresh reinforcements heading towards Guadalcanal. (Disaster was to strike the WASP).

- Sept. 15 (at 14:20 Hours): The WASP headed into the wind and launched 8 F4F Fighters & 18 SBD-3 Dive Bombers (Squadron VS-71) (including SBD pilot Lt. Robert Mohler); the 26 fighter planes on a search mission for enemy ships.

- Sept. 15 (at 14:44 Hours): SUBMARINE ATTACK: (24 Minutes after the SBD flight launch): Three (3) Torpedoes struck WASP on her starboard beam ,immediately igniting deadly fuel fires, that quickly engulfed the ship in flames. The Japanese Submarine I-19 had been quietly laying below in wait for the convoy to pass overhead, firing a spread of 6 Torpedoes. In a remarkable fortune for the enemy Sub, 3 of the 6 torpedoes sped under the hull of the WASP and continued for several thousand yards, two torpedoes striking two more support ships for the WASP: One striking the Battleship “USS North Carolina”, and the second striking the destroyer “USS O’Brien”. (The North Carolina had to return to Pearl Harbor, for major repairs and the O’Brien sank later, breaking up days after). The WASP continued to burn out of control and Captain Sherman finally ordered abandon ship at 15:20 hours, and by 16:00 (40 minutes later) the entire surviving crew were off the carrier, being recovered by support destroyers. (Cont. on next Pg.):

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- Sept. 15 (Continued):

- Of the WASP’s total of 2,247 officers & crew (193 were killed & 400 injured during the attack). The WASP survivors were recovered by the following nearby Navy support ships that afternoon/evening: Destroyers: Laffey (DD459), Duncan (DD485), Lansdowne (DD487), Farenholt (DD491), and Cruisers: Salt Lake City (CA-25) & Helina: (CL-50).The WASP, which refused to sink, was scuttled by ship-launched torpedoes from destroyer USS Lansdowne and finally sank at 21:00 hours. The WASP’s survivors were transported by Lansdowne, Salt Lake City & others to Noumea on New Caledonia Island (east of Australia) for recovery.

- Sept. 15 (recovery of the WASP’s 26 airborne Squadron of SBD’s): Lt. Mohler and the other pilots, still airborne, returned to find their WASP burning furiously, and sinking. It was wartime radio-silence, so they did not learn of the attack until seeing the damage themselves. Fortunately scout SBD’s from the sister carrier HORNET had been sent out to intercept the 26 surviving WASP planes, and led them back to the HORNET, who had by then steamed 100-miles away towards Guadalcanal to avoid further submarine attack. The HORNET moved all their fighters to their hanger-deck, and kept the flight-deck open to recover the WASP’s nearly fuel-empty fighters & SBD’s (All 26 planes were recovered successfully).

- Sept. 16: Lt. Mohler’s SBD and the other 25 WASP fighters were re-fueled and flew from the HORNET to a friendly airstrip on the island of Esperito Santo.

- SEPT.- DEC. 1942 (Lt. Mohler’s Air Support over Guadalcanal & Solomon’s):

- Henderson Field on Guadalcanal: With the loss of their aircraft carrier, Lt. Mohler and other WASP Navy pilots became reassigned (as Marine Pilots) flying missions with the Marine pilots on Guadalcanal and other Solomon Islands (Mid-Sept to mid- Nov. (2 Months), Lt. Mohler flew daily missions with his fellow Marine & Navy pilots, which lead to special commendations for Lt. Mohler due to his dive-bombing skills. He and fellow Navy/Marine pilots helped to sink a Japanese Cruiser and Tanker, for which he received the Navy’s very special “Distinguished Flying Cross” metal.

- Close Action: Lt. Mohler said the enemy soldiers were so close to the airstrip, that he and the other pilots would start firing their wing-cannons shortly after lift-off. Every night he said Heavy Japanese Cruisers would sail down the “slot” between the islands chain, and lob large explosive shells into the US held airfield & camp, blowing large craters everywhere. Smart pilots abandoned tents and slept in fox-holes to survive.

- Lt. Mohler’s Air combat with a ZERO: During his bombing run on a Japanese Cruiser, Lt. Mohler was jumped by a swifter Japanese ZERO fighter who pursued his SBD, creating an instant aerial dogfight over the Pacific. The faster & more maneuverable ZERO was off-set by the SBD’s rear-gunner (with twin 30 cal. machine guns), and Mohler’s highly skilled air-tactics. Although his SBD was much shredded by the ZERO’s cannon fire (both pilots survived), and the ZERO broke off, returning to re-defend the enemy ship, as Mohler’s SBD limped back to GUADALCANAL. Although he and his navigator/gunner survived unwounded, his SBD was scrapped after landing, due to the air-battle damage, but the sturdy SBD got them safely back to their base.

- Comments on the Marines: Lt. Mohler was very impressed with the gutsy Marine pilots he met, some who would fly missions all day, then go down to the jungle at night, joining fellow Marine grunts and shooting 45 cal. side-arms at the enemy. He said one of the bravest sights he saw were Marine pilots dropping torpedoes on enemy ships with painfully slow, sitting-duck, PBY seaplanes (since their Marine Torpedo planes had been entirely destroyed during combat), many pilots perished.

- Life Magazine (Nov. 9, 1942): LIFE did a detailed gritty article on GUADALCANAL combat, (Describing the sinking of the WASP, as well as photographing Lt. Mohler & other Navy & Marine pilots trucked to the flight-line action on Henderson Field).

Nov.-Dec. 1942 (Bob returns on leave & Marriage): Lt. Mohler flew to New Caladonia, then Navy-shipped to San Francisco, then arrived home Ohio, quickly marrying his sweetheart Marjorie in Akron, Ohio on December 27, 1942.

Return to Active Navy Duty (Jan. 1943 to Nov. 1944): Lt. Mohler was reassigned to Navy’s Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida as a Combat Flight Instructor for new pilots. His new wife Marjorie joined him briefly there, both living in sparse base housing. Remaining WWII Navy assignment : Lt. Mohler was reassigned to New London, Connecticut , providing additional Combat Dive-Bombing Instructor duties.

• During that same period (STATESIDE) in early 1940’s: - Franklin Roosevelt was President; Henry Wallace was Vice President; - Best Movie: “Mrs. Miniver” ; Best Actor & Actress: James Cagney & Greer Garson - 3-Bedroom homes cost $3,500 ; $2,500: Was Annual Income ($208/ Month or $1.30/Hour) - A new Ford cost $800 (Gasoline was $0.20/Gallon; Bread was $0.10/Loaf) - Popular Songs: “Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree”; “That Old Black Magic”

• Margie & Bob lived briefly in Jacksonville, Florida, but purchased their first real home (a 2-story) in North Canton, Ohio when Bob was assigned as a US Navy dive-bomber instructor in Akron. He would “buzz” their North Canton home with his squadron.

• Sons Robert & John: While living in North Canton they had two sons: Robert Larry born on Oct. 5, 1944 and John David born on Oct. 27, 1945, a year apart. John & Robert fondly remember winter sledding down the 2 side streets of their home.

• Margie & Bob moved west to Pomona, California in 1950, after WWII had ended. Bob took a job at Baker Lumber Co. in Pomona, and they both lived briefly with Marjorie’s parents John & Mary Evans before purchasing a home on Anne Arbor St. in south Pomona. Bob also remained in Navy (inactive status), as a Naval Reserve Officer.

• Korean War (Nov. 1951- Oct. 1954): Bob was re-activated by the Navy for the Korean War- stationed at the “North Island” Naval Base in San Diego Bay. Bob was assigned to a (Helicopter Support Carrier Fleet) on the Aircraft Carrier Sicily stationed out of Okinawa, Japan as part of the USA’s Korean war effort. Commander Mohler was on the Admiral’s staff during this period, praised by the Admiral for his administrative military expertise. Robert Mohler’s family lived in San Diego during this period.

• Commander Mohler (1954-1965) continued in the Naval Reserves after Korea, (non-active duty status) with continued top-secret level clearances during this period.

• 1n 1954 Margie & Bob moved to Ontario, CA, purchasing a nice new home at 925 W. G St. Bob went to work for Ontario Lumber & Hardware Co. at 549 W. Holt Blvd. They had a beautiful view of Mt. Baldy, above a citrus grove immediately across the street.

• In 1960 Bob & Margie purchased Ontario Lumber & Hardware Co. from owner Mac McCauley, who started his business in 1945 during the boom years after WWII.

• Ohio Train Trips: While living in Ontario, they also visited their roots in Ohio, making cross-country El Capitan Train trips to visit North Canton & Akron, Ohio relatives.

• Sons John & Robert joined the military in mid-60’s; John: Navy, Robert: The Marines.

• Sons John & Robert started their careers; John in hardware sales, and Robert initially a Metropolitan Water District (MWD) company surveyor for 5 years, then 33 years as a civil engineer for the City of Palm Springs.

• Hardware Association: Bob & Marge headed the Pacific Southwest Hardware Association for a number of years, hosting annual conferences in and out of the USA.

• Bob was also the President of the Ontario Rotary organization during those years.

• In 1977 Margie & Bob built a beautiful 2-story brick home on 15th St. in Upland, CA.

• In 1987 Bob & Margie sold Ontario Lumber & Hardware Co. and moved to their dream retirement home in a forest hillside with an “ocean view” on Huckleberry Court in Pacific Grove (Monterey, CA.) (Carmel & the Monterey Peninsula was their “favorite” vacation getaway spot during all the years they lived in California)

• Margie & Bob joined the Presbyterian Church in Carmel and then helped form the “Yellow Brick Road” church thrift store, which became famous on the Monterey Peninsula, raising over $2 Million for over 200 charities in the area. Marge & Bob were on the YBR board of directors and were both dearly loved by church members.

• 1987 thru 2003: During the 16 years they lived in Monterey, Margie & Bob also took many out-of-country tours and cruises, visiting most all countries of Europe, Asia and Britain (including Wales, where Marjorie’s Mother Mary Evans was originally born). They loved meeting new people and viewing the splendid sights of the world.

• 2003- 2007: In July 2003 Bob & Margie sold their Monterey home and moved to Laguna Woods (Leisure World) in So. Cal. to be closer to their sons and their families.

• In April 2007, Margie & Bob moved to Ingleside Lodge , an exceptional 8-room “assisted living” home in Yucca Valley, CA., owned & operated by Bud & Carie Newell. This move to be nearer their son & daughter in law’s personal care.

• January 2008 & 2009 (WWII Plane Flights): The Mohler family purchased WWII Navy SNJ Plane flights for ex-Navy Pilot Bob for his Jan. 7th Birthdays those two years. Margie got to see her war hero husband fly again, 65 years after WWII, and this became a fun family event (for 2-years) at Thermal Airport east of Palm Springs.

• Marjorie , Bob’s lifetime inseparable “True Love”, became critically ill with pneumonia , and passed away in her sleep on August 22, 2009. Marjorie Jane Mohler, born on 8/5/1922, had just celebrated her 87th Birthday that month.

• August 30, 2011: Ex-Navy Commander Robert J. Mohler was interviewed by THE DESERT SUN newspaper reporter Denise Goolsby, who has been publishing profiles of local desert WWII Veterans called: HONORING OUR VETERANS. Her profiles have been “very popular” with Desert Sun readers for about 18 months, saying she is close to having many of her Desert Area WWII Veteran profiles published in book form.

• September 4, 2011: The Desert Sun published Robert J. Mohler’s WWII Navy profile in the Honoring Our Veterans segment of their Sunday edition of the newspaper.

• November 11, 2011 The Hi-Desert Star newspaper published MILITARY MEMORIES magazine featuring Ex-Navy fighter pilot Robert J Mohler in their Veteran’s Day issue.

• January 7, 2012 Robert J. celebrated his 94th Birthday with his family & friends.

• February 29, 2012 The Canton Repository newspaper in Ohio featured Ex-Navy pilot Robert J. Mohler in their article titled WWII: Then and Now: He Flew Dive Bombers.

• May 17, 2012 Bob passed away peacefully at 7:25 PM at Ingleside Lodge-Assisted Living in Yucca Valley, CA with family members at his side on his final day.

Robert J. Mohler’s immediate family members:

• Son Robert L. (Bob) and RJM’s daughter in law Jan- (in Yucca Valley, CA)

• Son John and RJM’s daughter in law Judy & grandson Johnny- (in Temecula, CA)

• Granddaughter Carla (Mohler), her husband Armen, & RJM’s great-granddaughter Brookelle

• Granddaughter Jennifer (Mohler) and her husband Erik

• Granddaughter Monique (Mohler), her husband Jason & RJM’s great-granddaughter Desiree