Robert B. Pirie Sr.

(1905-1990) born at Wymore, Gage County. Military officer, considered an expert in naval aviation and carrier-force operations, held several leadership positions in aviation training, served with distinction during World War II in his supervision of missions on carrier flagships in the Pacific; after the war, he served as air operations officer on staff of Fleet Admiral E. J. King, was first head of aviation department at Naval Academy, commanded the carriers Sicily and Coral Sea, was commander of fleet of 150 ships from six nations during NATO operations in Atlantic, and became deputy chief of air naval operations for the U.S. Department of Navy for four years; achieved rank of vice admiral in 1957, and inducted in Naval Aviation Hall of Honor at Pensacola, Florida in 1986. Consult U.S. News & World Report, September 13, 1957, p. 12 and Omaha World Herald Magazine, December 7, 1958, pp. 3, 39 and November 20, 1960, pp. 20-21 and obituary in New York Times, January 12, 1990, p. A-25.

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