MSgt. Robert R. Sternecker, USAF Retired

I was born in St. Louis, MO on 14 January 1922. I had one brother, who was 5 years younger He died in October 2002.

After attending Grade School in St. Louis, I enrolled in Hadley Vocational School, where I studied aircraft mechanics. In out junior year we alternated a month in school and a month at the Naval Air Station at Lambert Field under the guidance of Naval mechanics. I graduated from Hadley in January, 1940.

I enlisted in The US Army Air Corps at Chanute Field, IL on 28 January 1940. We received two weeks of basic training at Chanute before transferring to a school squadron in preparation to begin aircraft mechanic training. The short basic training was a snap for me since I had received a month of Infantry at CMTC in July 1939 at Jefferson Barracks, MO.

After completing the Aircraft Mechanics Course in December 1940, I was retained at Chanute and assigned as an instructor in the course. This was a change of orders as I was to be transferred to Kelly Field, TX as an Aircraft Mechanic.

In June 1941 I transferred in the Maintenance Shop where I helped make mock-ups and cut-a-ways for the classes. I was promoted to Private 1st Class with a 4th Class Specialist rating. Now I was “in the chips”, $51.00 a month!

In October 1941 I was transferred to Keesler Field where a new aircraft mechanics school was being started. After 7 December 1941, drastic changes occurred. One change was the school was specializing in one type of aircraft. Keesler was assigned the B-24 and several airworthy B-24s, as well as parts, arrived. I requested, and was assigned to, a B-24 as a crew chief. A Copilot training unit was established and I became a Flight Engineer on B-24s.

Advancement in grade was also rapid after 7 December 1941. I rose through the ranks to Tech Sergeant by December 1942.

One of my requests for transfer was finally approved and I departed Keesler for Langley Field, VA on 1 August 1945. Japan surrendered while I was in route. After several months at Langley, I reenlisted and was assigned to Elmendorf Field in Alaska. President Truman signed the order designating the United States Air Force as a separate branch of the armed forces in September 1947 while I was in Alaska. I was no longer in the Army!

Like all military personnel, I had many moves. I was stationed at Tinker AFB, OK in 1950 when I was promoted to Master Sergeant. That was also the year that we received our blue Air Force uniforms. 

During the Korean Conflict, I was stationed at Whelus AFB in Tripoli with an Air Rescue Squadron where I was a Line Chief over SA-16s, H-5s and a C-83. The squadron made several rescues of personnel out of the Mediterranean Sea while I was stationed there.

I retired from the Air Force while in the Air Defense Command at Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO on 31 August 1962.

I had obtained the FAA Airframe and Power Plant Mechanic Certificates where in the Air Corps and Air Force, and was able to gain employment with the FAA, maintaining their Flight Check Aircraft at Fairfax Airport, Kansas City, KS the end of September 1962.

In June 1972 I transferred to the FAA’s Flight Standards District Office as a General Aviation Airworthiness Inspector. While in the position I learned to fly and obtained a Commercial Pilot’s Certificate with Instrument Rating. The Inspector position required a lot of travel. Quicker to fly than drive!

I required quadruple bypass surgery in September 1987. After that, I could not keep up the pace required by my position, so I retired from the FAA on 3 January 1988.

My first wife and I had 3 children, Richard, Paula and David. Richard worked for TWA for 35 years at their Overhaul Base in Kansas City, MO. He died in 2008. Paula taught school and David is a Civil Engineer. They all married and had 2 children a piece. My 6 grandchildren have married and have given me 9 great grandchildren. (Since he wrote this, he also has one great-great grandchild)

My first wife and I were divorced in 1972 and I met Jeanne in the summer of 1979 and we were married in December 1979. After recovering from the bypass surgery and renewing my FAA Medical Certificate, we bought a 1975 Model, Cessna 172 and did a little traveling.

We moved to Mesa, AZ in 1992. We sold the 172 in 2003 and spent our time volunteering. Jeanne was a RN and I told her I lived this long because of her excellent care.

There are other events in his life that could be shared, but these were the ones that he felt were the most notable, so his obituary will be left as he wanted.

Visitation at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Smithville, MO December 17, 10:00 am. Burial at Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Heart Association.