Robert Friend

Robert Jones Friend (February 29, 1920 – June 21, 2019) was an American military officer and pilot who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and led the USAF's Project Blue Book from 1958 to 1963. After the war began the Army established a segregated program for black pilots in Tuskegee, Alabama. Friend immediately signed up and completed training. The United States Army Air Corps commissioned him as an officer in the 332nd Fighter Group. He was sent to Africa and later Europe.

After World War II, Friend stayed in the service and eventually served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was in the military for a total of 28 years. He was a graduate of the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Awards 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses (United States) Bronze Star Medal ribbon U.S. Army Presidential Unit Citation ribbon 3 U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbons The Air Medal Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006 He had flown 142 combat missions in World War II as part of the elite group of fighter pilots trained at Alabama's Tuskegee Institute. A public viewing and memorial was held at the Palm Springs Air Museum on July 6. He had spoken about his experiences in many different events prior to his death, such as in John Murdy Elementary School's "The Gratitude Project" in Garden Grove.