Cpt. Robert Haynes Powell, Jr.

Robert H. "Punchy" Powell, Jr.
One of a quickly vanishing breed of "Knights of the Air", Robert H. "Punchy" Powell, Jr., a World War II Veteran Fighter Pilot, loving husband, respected father and Atlanta businessman, as well as noted WWII historian and author, passed away June 22, 2016 at the age of 95. Bob "Punchy" Powell, as many knew him, was born November 21, 1920, in Wilcoe, WV. He was the only child of Robert Haynes Powell and Gypsy Reynolds Powell. Bob was married to Betty Wiley Powell, of Thorpe, WV, for 70 wonderful years. Betty passed in March of 2015. He is survived by his 3 children, Robert W. Powell (Nancy) of Atlanta, GA, Linda Powell Catarino (Roger) of Columbia, SC and Betsy Powell Wall (Jimmy) of St. Simons Island, GA, 6 grandchildren, Courtnay Catarino, Casey Bradford (Derik), Lauren Botts (Daniel), RJ Catarino, Chris Wall, Jessica Lane, 5 great grandchildren and many more extended family and friends. Bob was a member of Oak Grove Methodist Church, the 352nd Fighter Group Association, The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, The Order of the Daedalians, The Silver Wings Fraternity-Atlanta Chapter, The Mighty 8th Air Force Historical Society-Georgia Chapter, World War II Round Table and the American Legion.
Bob grew up in the coal fields deep in the mountains of southern West Virginia. He graduated from Gary High School where he was Golden Glove Champion and acquired the nickname "Punchy" that followed him throughout his years. He was born to fly. His first flight was in a crop duster when he was 6 years old. He grew up during the Depression which created a man of integrity and strength of character, just like his dad. Bob "Punchy" Powell was attending West Virginia University when Pearl Harbor was attacked so he and his best friend hitchhiked to Pikeville, Kentucky to take the Aviation Cadet Exam. He enlisted on March 23, 1942. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on January 4, 1943, was shipped overseas in April 1943 and assigned to the 328th Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group, based in Bodney, England. He flew 87 missions in the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang until coming stateside in December 1944. In addition to bomber escort missions, he flew numerous ground-support, train-busting, and airfield strafing sorties and was battle-damaged on five different missions. His victory credits include 6 destroyed (air and ground), 2 enemy aircraft probably destroyed (air and ground) and 7 damaged (air and ground), including destruction of the first German Luftwaffe HE-177 long range bomber. "Punchy" was awarded The Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, The Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, The French D-day Medal, The Victory Medal, The ETO Medal with four Battle Stars, the Presidential Unit citation as a member of the 352nd FG and several other Campaign Medals. On D-Day, Punchy flew 3 missions, for a total of 16 hours sitting in his Mustang. Their mission was to consider anything moving toward the beaches enemy and destroy it. Regarding his flying in the war, Punchy said, "I wasn't flying that plane, God was. I was blessed, and, like my mom told me, better to be lucky than good-looking." Upon returning, he married his hometown sweetheart, Betty Wiley, and was assigned as a test pilot and Public Relations Officer at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH. At war's end, he returned to West Virginia University to earn his BS in Journalism in 1947. He worked as a newspaper reporter, photographer and feature writer on the Roanoke World News before being "recalled" for the Korean War. Four more years of service included fighter gunnery assignments with the USAF Exhibit Group and later as an AFROTC instructor. Bob separated from the USAF in 1954 at the rank of Captain to return to a civilian occupation as Advertising Manager for the Norfolk and Western Railway in Roanoke, VA. He and his wife Betty moved to Atlanta in 1956, where they lived for 59 years. In Atlanta, he became Regional Manager for a major publishing company and retired in 1987. After retiring, "Punchy", along with two other historians, Sam Sox and Tom Ivey, took on the project of writing the History of the 352nd Fighter Group, which entailed years of searching for all the members of the group to get "their stories" as well as any photos that could be used in the book. The first edition of The Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney was published in 1990. He then began his second book, in which he, Marc Hamel, and Sam Sox took individual stories of members of the 352nd Fighter Group and edited them into the book, Bluenoser Tales. Both books received fabulous reviews and have been sold out and out of publication for years. Bob Powell was a major supporter and fund raiser for the building project of the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum in Pooler, GA, where his Air Force Group is celebrated and memorialized, and he was a lifetime member. Over the years, "Punchy" became a highly sought-after speaker on WWII and the accomplishments of the 352nd Fighter Group for aviation organizations, civic groups, schools and veterans groups. In 2007, Bob "Punchy" Powell was among the honorees at the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends, in Columbus, OH. In 2011, he was honored with his "West by 'Gawd' Virginian", P-51 Blue Nosed Mustang's markings being painted on the P-51 Mustang replica in front of the 57th Fighter Group Restaurant at PDK Airport, in Atlanta, GA.
Bob and Betty moved to Columbia, SC in 2015, to be close to one of their children and grandchildren, where Betty passed in March 2015. Bob will be buried alongside his wife of 70 years in the Cemetery at Oak Grove Methodist Church where the services will be held in the Sanctuary. Funeral arrangements are being handled by AS Turner Funeral Home.
Honorary Pallbearers are the Faith Class at Oak Grove Methodist Church and Silver Wings Fraternity. Pallbearers are Robert McCreary, Gilly Smith, Steve Hicks, Ken McCoy, Brent Bracewell, RJ Catarino, Chris Wall and Travis Reynolds.
The family will receive friends on Saturday evening June 25th from 5pm-7pm at AS Turner Funeral Home, 2773 N Decatur Rd, Decatur, GA 30033. Military services will be held at 2 o'clock PM in the Oak Grove Methodist Church Sanctuary, 1722 Oak Grove Rd, Decatur, GA 30033. After a brief graveside service at the church cemetery, a reception will be held at the church Fellowship Hall. Donations in lieu of flowers to The National Museum of the Might 8th Air Force, P. O Box 1992, Savannah, GA 31402 or The American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515, Northampton MA 01061-0151.


Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033