Robert Prescott Keller (February 9, 1920 – November 13, 2010) was a highly decorated Naval aviator in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. He began his career as reserve pilot during World War II; he shot down one enemy aircraft and damaged two others during New Britain campaign. Keller distinguished himself again as pilot during Korean War and later reached general's rank during Vietnam War.
He rose to the three-star rank and completed his career as commanding general, Marine Corps Development and Education Command at Quantico, Virginia, in September 1974 after 34 years of service.
Early career
World War II
Robert P. Keller was born on February 9, 1920, in Oakland, California, the son of Harry and Eulilee Keller. Following high school, he entered the University of California, Berkeley and applied for Naval Aviator Program. Keller was accepted on July 15, 1940, and enlisted the Marine Corps Reserve on the same date. He was promoted to the private first class and ordered for one-month training to Naval Reserve Aviation Base in Oakland.
Keller was ordered to the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, in December 1940 and reported for full aviation training as a member of the first class of naval aviation cadets there. He received his Naval aviator's wings upon commissioning to second lieutenant on June 3, 1941, and was ordered to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Keller then served for 19 months as Flight instructor and was promoted consecutively to first lieutenant and captain.
He then embarked for South Pacific and joined the Marine Fighter Squadron 212 as Squadron Ordnance Officer, responsible for planning and maintenance of squadron's guns and bombs. Keller was stationed at the Midway Island and following the promotion to major, he was appointed Squadron Executive officer under Lieutenant colonel Frederick R. Payne Jr.
Keller remained with the squadron for few months, before he was transferred to Marine Attack Squadron 223 ("Bulldogs") stationed on Hawaii. He was appointed Squadron Executive officer under famous Marine flyer Marion E. Carl and took part in the training and combat air patrols over Hawaii until August 1943, when the whole squadron was transferred to Midway Island. After a brief stay there, squadron moved to Quoin Hill Airfield at New Hebrides from where they escorted allied bombers against ground targets at Green Islands and Bougainville.
During the escort mission with his Vought F4U Corsair near Rabaul, New Britain, Keller destroyed one Japanese airplane and damaged two others and received Distinguished Flying Cross. He succeeded Marion Carl as Squadron commander in February 1944 and was stationed with his squadron at Piva Airfield at Bougainville. During the Japanese artillery shelling of the field on March 8, 1944, three aircraft were destroyed, one enlisted man killed and Keller has been hit with a shrapnel in the hip. He spent four weeks in hospital and was later decorated with the Purple Heart for his wounds. During his tenure as Squadron's commander, Keller hosted prominent aviator and Medal of Honor recipient Charles Lindbergh, who flew three combat missions with his squadron.
He subsequently rejoined his squadron and remained in command until the beginning of July 1944, when he returned to the United States. Keller was ordered for night fighter training, which he completed few months later and transitioned into the Grumman F7F Tigercat. He subsequently assumed command of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 531 ("Grey Ghosts") and deployed to the Pacific theater again in order to cover the planned Invasion of Japan.
While still at sea, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which forced Japan sign the surrender in September 1945. Keller was transferred to the command of Marine Night Fighter Squadron 533 ("Black Mac's Killers") and embarked for North China in early October 1945. He was stationed near Beiping and his squadron assisted in the repatriation of Japanese forces to their home islands. In addition to his Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart, Keller received ten awards of Air Medal for his bomber escort missions. For his service in North China, he was decorated with Order of the Cloud and Banner.
