Robert R. Klingman

Robert R. Klingman Sr. (January 12, 1917 - July 6, 2004) was a decorated United States Marine Corps officer. He was awarded the Navy Cross for ramming a Japanese plane and causing it to crash during World War II.
Early life and Marine Corps service
Robert R. Klingman Sr. was born on January 12, 1917, in Binger, Oklahoma, to a family of nine children. Klingman's parents sent him to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for Civilian Military Training during the Great Depression.
In August 1934, Klingman enlisted in the Marine Corps. After basic training, Klingman was stationed at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., where he served as a drummer. During his four years in the Marines, he sent his paychecks back home to his mother. Upon returning home to Oklahoma after his discharge, Klingman opened a burger cafe.
On May 10, 1945, First Lieutenant Klingman and two other pilots followed Captain Kenneth Reusser up to 13,000 feet in preparation to intercept a Kawasaki Ki-45 "Nick" reconnaissance plane. The F4U Corsairs of VMF-312 typically operated at about 10,000 feet. During the battle, the Japanese were operating photo-reconnaissance planes at altitudes above 35,000 feet, well out of the Corsairs range. Reusser ordered the Marines to drop their reserve fuel tanks and they climbed to 20,000 feet. Unable to climb any higher, they were then ordered to lighten their planes by firing some of their ammunition. Klingman lightened his aircraft by 687 pounds when he fired 2,000 rounds of ammunition. The other two pilots experienced engine trouble at the high altitude and had to return to their normal operating range.
Climbing to 38,000 feet, 3,000 feet above the Corsair's service ceiling, Captain Reusser fired the last of his ammunition at the "Nick" and damaged the one wing and one engine, thus causing the plane to slow down. Lieutenant Klingman sped directly behind the "Nick" and attempted to fire, but the high altitude jammed his machine guns. Klingman then radioed to Reusser, "I'm going to hit him with my plane."
Two days later, Klingman was forced to bail out of his plane when it began suffering hydraulic problems. He was safely picked up out of the water by an American destroyer, and his plane was shot down by friendly forces as it slowly descended towards the offshore fleet.<ref name=":1" />
Later career and life
Klingman kept his parachute, which his girlfriend used as her wedding dress when the two were married after the war in San Diego. Klingman later served as an air traffic controller with the 1st Marine Division during the Korean War. Klingman retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1966.<ref name=":1" />
Robert R. Klingman Sr. died on July 6, 2004, in Kihei, Hawaii. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.<ref name=":0" />

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