AP1 Robert Bruce Miles was born on August 20, 1912 in Deer Lodge, MT to the union of John Frederick Miles and Flossie Mabel Watson. Married on March 20, 1911, they were the parents of Robert Bruce and Stewart Watson Miles. As a young boy, Robert was considered to be mechanically inclined to the point of genius. He was enamored with aviation and even built and flew his own plane powered by a four-cylinder engine from an old Model-T Ford automobile. He flew his home built plane all over the countryside. One day, he amazed a crowd with his flying prowess at the Deer Lodge rodeo. Above and beyond mechanics, Robert was also academically inclined. He completed his college preparatory curricula at the Powell County high school where he played on the football team.
He then enlisted in the US Navy on April 14, 1936 in Salt Lake City, Utah and after boot camp he was sent to aviation machinist mate school in San Diego. He progressed quickly through the ranks before being selected for aviation pilot school. On May 30, 1938, Third Class Miles reported to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola to begin flight training. Here he met and married Miss Doris Pauline Eubanks from the Pensacola High Class of 1939 on December 24, 1938. She was the daughter of Collin Andrew Eubanks and Nellie J. Wilkinson who supported his family as a L&N Railroad conductor. Their son, Robert Jr. was born in Pensacola in 1942 and would pass away in 2008 in his home town. He received his wings as an enlisted Naval Aviation Pilot (NAP) on April 21, 1939.
He was assigned to Torpedo Squadron VT-2 on June 9, 1939 aboard the USS Lexington. On May 7, 1942, Robert and his ship entered the Battle of the Coral Sea where the Lexington was sunk by the Japanese. His squadron was transferred to the USS Hornet and joined the Yorktown and Enterprise for the attack on the Japanese Fleet at Midway. There on June 4, 1942, Robert and Torpedo Squadron #8 attacked against hopeless odds, flying low without fighter support. They were first to sight the enemy, but realized to a man that they had insufficient fuel to return to their carrier. Regardless, the pilots bravely held to their targets, dropping their torpedoes at point-blank range in the face of blasting antiaircraft fire that sent each of their planes hurtling ablaze into the sea. Twenty-nine young lives paid the ultimate sacrifice that resulted in one of the greatest military victories in American history.
For his bravery, Robert was awarded Navy Cross and Purple Heart plus a commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After Robert's death at Midway, Doris would remarry before passing away in Pensacola in 2010.
A Japanese carrier on fire
1931 High School Graduation Photo
AP1 Robert Bruce Miles aboard the USS Hornet
The Navy's Devastator Torpedo Bomber in the Battle of Midway