Robert P. Howle Jr.

Services for Colonel Robert P. Howle, Jr., USAF (Ret), 88, will be held Saturday, October 7, 2006 at 10 a.m. from Milling Funeral Home Chapel. He died Thursday, October 5, 2006, at Alliance Laird Hospital in Union. Visitation will be from 6-8p.m. on Friday, October 6,2006 at Milling Funeral Home in Union. Revs. Len MeRaney and Marcus Finch will be officiating. Burial will be in the Union City Cemetery with Milling Funeral Home of Union in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include: Wife: Louise Porter Howle of Union; 1 son: Bob and wife Connie Howle of Eureka Springs, AR; 1 sister: Billie Bohene of Cionesville, IN; 2 brothers: Wallace and Keith Howle both of Jackson.

Preceded in death by his parents Robert P. and Cleo Howle of Neshoba, MS; his wife, Annie Margaret Buntyn Howle and his sisters, Katharine Howle Rowzee and Burman Howle O'Neal.

Pallbearers include: Jack Armstrong, Russell Armstrong, Bob Adkins, Bill Adkins, Marc Herrington, Sr., Blake Richardson, Dr. J.G. Alexander and Rolph Howle. Honorary Pallbearers: Wayne Welch, Dr. L.B. Adkins, Dr. Thomas Welsh, and Bobby Freeman.

Prior to his retirement in 1968, Colonel Howle served as vice-commander of 29th Air Division, Duluth, MN, the largest division in the Air Defense Command. He shared in the responsibility for air defense covering all or part of five states. Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and parts of two providences in Canada.

Colonel Howle was a native of Neshoba County. He graduated from East Central Junior College in Decatur and two military colleges: the Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, KS and the Naval War College in Newport, RI. He also attended the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Virginia.

He joined the Army Air Corp as an aviation cadet prior to World War II and received his pilot training and commission in Texas. He was a command pilot and a veteran of over 100 combat missions, He flew combat aircraft from pre-WWII vintage biplanes to supersonic jet lighters. During WWII he flew the famed P-38 Lightning and the British De Havilland Mosquito in both aerial combat and photo reconnaissance support missions.

Among his decorations are the Distinguished Flying Cross, six Air Medals, three Air Force Commendation Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Korean Service Medal, European Stars, and the French Croix de Guerre with Star. He served tours of duty in Panama, Iceland, England, Germany, Korea, the Republic of China and Japan.

In addition Colonel Howle served on the United Nations Armistice Commission in Panmunjeom, Korea prior to and following the Korean Conflict.

Upon retirement Colonel Howle returned to Neshoba County where he made his home in Union. He was active in civilian aviation until 1995 as the pilot of his own airplane and was a tree farmer and an avid ham radio enthusiast.