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Colonel Robert E. Vickers Jr., a resident of Taos, NM and formerly of Albuquerque, NM, passed away on January 28, 2010. He is survived by his son Mark R. Vickers and daughter in law, Darlene Vickers of Albuquerque; three step daughters: Sheila Ross of Taos, Janace Chapman of Casper, WY and Billie Clark of Albuquerque; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Robert was preceded in death by his wife Annell Waldrop-Ross Vickers of Taos. Colonel Vickers graduated from high school in Fort Wayne, IN and enlisted in the United States Air Force as an Aviation Cadet in 1942. He entered pilot training in 1943, earning pilot's wings and officer commission in 1944, subsequently training as a B-24 Liberator Bomber Pilot and aircrew commander. He was assigned combat crew duty with U.S. 8th Air Force, 392nd Bomb Group (B-24's) in Wendling (Norfolk) England in late 1944 and flew 30 combat missions over Nazi Germany. His aircraft was shot down while on a mission near Dresden, Germany on January 16, 1945. The crew bailed out over friendly front lines in the Battle of the Bulge area near Metz, France and behind the rear guard of General George Patton's 3rd Army. Colonel Vickers trained as a B-29 Superfortress Instructor Pilot for the Pacific Theater as WW II closed. After 32 years of continuous active USAF duty he retired on May 1, 1975. Colonel Vickers was awarded Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal with multiple Oak Leaf clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters; Presidential Unit Citations (392nd BG), WWII and SAC (28th BW), B-52 'Cold War" operations, Major Overseas War Campaign ribbons for European Theater of Operations, WWII, w/ Battle Stars; Berlin Airlift; Korean and Vietnam conflicts. Interment will be at The National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 @ 1:30pm. Arrangements by Rivera Family Mortuaries and Crematory.
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