[Robert M. “Rudy” York oral history interview]

Fighter ace Robert M. “Rudy” York discusses his military service with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences in the European Theater with the 370th Fighter Squadron of the 359th Fighter Group. Special focus on a bomber escort mission to Germany on November 26, 1944, during which York scored several aerial victories and earned the Silver Star.

Robert M. “Rudy” York was born on September 11, 1921 in Portland, Maine. He earned his private pilot’s license in 1942 while attending junior college and joined the U.S. Army Air Forces shortly afterward. After completing his military flight training in 1943, York served as a flight and aerial gunnery instructor. In 1944, he was deployed to Europe, where he flew with the 370th Fighter Squadron of the 359th Fighter Group. He also served as the group operations officer during this time. York left active duty after the end of World War II and attended law school under the GI Bill. He was admitted to the Maine State Bar Association in 1952 and the Federal Bar Association in 1953. In 1955, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves and, as a lieutenant colonel, served as commander of the Reserve medical battalion. York passed away in 2008.