Robert Louis Sandner

The database page for Robert Louis Sandner

14 Feb 2005 I was in Nha Trang preparing to come home when I heard of your death. I cried then, and got drunk that night. Your wife said you would have wanted it that way. You have been on my mind for the last 38 years now. I can rest my mind now, knowing that you rest in peace at home, a fact I just learned from these memorial pages. From a friend and fellow pilot, Dick McManigell mcmanigell@aol.com

7 Mar 2005 Captain Sandner is remembered on the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Midland, Texas. From a PBVVM representative, Billy M. Brown 4015 Melody Lane, Odessa, Texas 79762 bmbrown@grandecom.net

10 Oct 2006 Bob was brought home in 1996. It gave us peace and he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Anyone who is interested can contact me at the listed e-mail address. From his wife, Joyce Sandner Limbird limbirdj@bellsouth.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall Captain Sandner was flying A-1E tail number 52-132449 when his aircraft was hit by enemy antiaircraft fire while attacking enemy positions west of Pleiku City. He had insufficient altitude to bail out of the aircraft before ground impact and was killed in the crash. His remains were repatriated on Sunday, 07 May 1995, with positive identification announced on Monday, 12 Feb 1996. The A-1 Skyraider was a Navy-developed aircraft designed during World War II. Although it entered Fleet service too late to see service in WW2, it performed very well indeed in Korea and was still in service at the beginning of Vietnam. The Air Force recognized its utility as a ground attack aircraft and in the early 1960s borrowed a number of aircraft from the Navy. Between 1964 and 1973 nearly 1000 USAF pilots went through A-1 training at Eglin Air Force Base's Aux Field #9 (Hurlburt Field). The photo above is for A-1 Class "Express 18" and is courtesy of the Skyraider Association. The three men marked with numbers were killed in action within two days of one another: #1, Capt Robert I. Bush, 602nd Fighter Squadron, A-1E 52-133899, 09 Jun 1966 #2, Capt Robert L. Sandner, 07 Jun 1966 #3, Capt Theodore J. Shorack, 602nd Fighter Squadron, A-1E 52-133869, 09 Jun 1966 Captains Bush and Shorack were conducting a mission in southern North Vietnam when both went down, reportedly as the result of a mid-air collision between the two aircraft.

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 14 Feb 2005
Last updated 08/10/2009