Robert Capen

Robert Capen was born in Kansas on December 14th, 1924, during a snowstorm. He was raised on a farm with an older sister during the Great Depression. During World War II, he served in the 35th Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force. He was sent to Visalia, where a PT-22 Ryan open cockpit served as his primary training plane for two months. Afterward, he moved to Marana, AZ, for basic training in a BT-13. Several months later, he attended advanced training in Chandler, AZ, where wings were pinned on the newly commissioned officers. Chico, CA, was his P-38 training location for six months before he traveled to New Guinea. He then went to the Philippines for combat in the Pacific. He married Mitzi Capen, and they were together for over 50 years. They raised six children and had 20 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.