Los Banos Rotary Club History
Navy Jet Pilot Tells Of Work

"Don't you believe, even for a minute, that the Korean War was merely a 'police action'," declared Com. Robert Dennes Jr. of Healdsburg, as he addressed members of the local Rotary Club Tuesday noon. "And the real heroes of the war, as in all wars, are the foot soldiers in the front line trenches, who endured snow and cold, rain and mud, short rations and misery, throughout the conflict.

"Many of our soldiers are beginning to come home," he said, "and some of them are Los Banos men. They've gone through a lot and they deserve the plaudits of their friends and everyone in the community. Welcome them when they arrive, tell them you're glad to see them and mean it when you say it. They've done a grand job!"

Dennes minimized his part in the Korean war, when he has been on combat duty since last December, attached to the U.S. Carrier Philippine Sea. However, his record, as related by Rotary President Kenneth Anderson, showed he holds the Distinguished Flying Cross, 15 Air Medals, a Purple Heart, two Navy Commendation and one Unit Commendation. A native of Healdsburg, he volunteered for Navy Air Service at the beginning of one of the country's first jet planes as that war ended. Being in the Reserves, he was recalled into service for the Korean war.

Dennes related personal experiences at the front, and of the job they had to do—bombing enemy big guns, ammunition and supply dumps, trains, railroad tracks and roads, and occupational mass raids on large supply centers.
During the latter part of the war the Navy bombers, carrying 20 m.m. cannon, were given a new assignment, furnishing close air support in the men in the trenches. He also told of the last big enemy push, when they flew on a 24-hour basis, carrying and dumping load after load of bombs on advancing enemy troops and trucks without making an appreciable dent in their numbers.
The Commander told of the development of radar sighted guns by the enemy and increased effectiveness of enemy anti-aircraft fire, frequently scoring hits at an altitude of 12,000 feet. And he said there was no doubt but that the radar, guns and most of the fighting equipment was of Russian origin, and operated by Russian trained troops.

October 30, 1953

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