Robert Clare Chandler
May 12, 1922 – May 10, 2004
Class: 44B-SE
Unit: 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, 15th Air Force
Location of Service: Biloxi, Mississippi; Selfridge Air Force Base, Mount Clemens, Michigan; Italy; European Theater
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Dates of Service: 1942-1945
Robert Clarence Chandler, better known as Clare was born May 12, 1922 in Allegan, MI the son of Willard and Christine (Maxwell) Chandler. One of five children born and raised in Allegan, Clare found his aviation passion at age 14 when he heard P-36 Hawks flying Army maneuvers over his home. Interest in a family friend’s private plane further inspired Clare to fly.
Clare graduated from Allegan High School and had attended Western Michigan University where he ran track, and was a member of the marching band.
Clare learned about the aviation cadet program in the newspaper and his love of math and physics helped him ace the cadet test. Clare enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in December 1942 and graduated with Tuskegee’s Class 44B-SE in February 1944. As a member of the 99th, Clare flew 49 combat missions. On his 21st mission, he crash-landed his aircraft deep behind enemy lines and experienced quite an adventure before reuniting with his unit.
Clare returned home to Allegan after the war. He wed Virginia, whom he’d met at Tuskegee, and they made a life together with son Wendell. He studied science at Western Michigan University and worked at Rockwell International until his retirement.
Watch the video Robert Clare Chandler Collection Veterans History project
Sources:
Air Zoo, the Air Zoo is a world-class, Smithsonian-affiliated aerospace and science museum, in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Gordon Funeral Residence
Learn more about Robert “Clare” Chandler and the Tuskegee Airmen
