Robert M. DeHaven

Robert Marshall DeHaven (January 13, 1922 – July 10, 2008) was an American flying ace in the 49th Fighter Group during World War II, who was credited with 14 aerial victories. After the war, he briefly worked as an actor before becoming a personal pilot for billionaire Howard Hughes.

Early life DeHaven was born on 1922 in San Diego. He graduated from North Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, before attending Washington and Lee University in Virginia.

World War II

After the completion of his training in the P-40 Warhawk training in Florida, he was assigned to the 73d Fighter Squadron of the 318th Fighter Group in Hawaii. During this time, American fighter units in the South West Pacific Area were desperately short of qualified pilots and as a result, DeHaven was assigned to the 7th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group in May 1943. Arriving to New Guinea via Australia, he was stationed at the 49th FG's base at Dobodura Airfield in New Guinea, where he flew P-40s in combat.

On July 14, 1943, DeHaven scored his first aerial victory when he shot down an Aichi D3A "Val" dive bomber over Salamaua and on October 17, 1943, he shot down a Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar". DeHaven shot down a Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" and a Kawasaki Ki-61 "Tony" on October 27.

In the summer of 1944, the 49th FG converted to Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and took part in the Philippines campaign. On October 29, 1944, DeHaven shot down an Oscar over Biliran Island, his first aerial victory in the P-38 and eleventh overall. He scored his final victories in November 1944, when he shot down two Zeros and one Mitsubishi J2M "Jack" during aerial patrols over Leyte. At the end of November, he was sent back to the United States for shore leave. In 1945, he returned to the 49th FG as group operations officer, serving this position till V-J Day. He later remarried to Diane Kwasniewicz and had another son. Distinguished Flying Crosswith two bronze oak leaf clusters Air Medalwith two silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters Air Medal(second ribbon required for accoutrement spacing) Air Force Presidential Unit Citationwith bronze oak leaf cluster American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalwith four bronze campaign stars World War II Victory Medal National Defense Service Medal Air Force Longevity Service Award Armed Forces Reserve Medalwith bronze hourglass device Philippine Liberation Medalwith service star