Robert F. Ronca - KIA

Preferred Name: Robert
Date of Birth: October 23, 1923
Highest Military Grade: 0-4 – Major
Hometown: Norristown, PA
Headed West Date: February 19, 1965

On 19 February 1965 “Major Robert F. Ronca was attacking anti-aircraft positions near the Ban Ken Bridge in northern Laos. On his second run at the target, Ronca was killed when his F-100D (#55-3783) was brought down by enemy fire. His remains were recovered.” (1)

“Robert Ronca was born on October 21, 1923, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve on December 12, 1942, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on June 30, 1943, earning his commission as a Flight Officer and his pilot wings at Foster Field, Texas, on March 12, 1944.

After serving as a test pilot at Perrin Field, Texas, FO Ronca deployed to New Guinea in June 1944, and served as a C-47 Dakota and C-46 Commando pilot with the 69th Troop Carrier Squadron from June 1944 to February 1945, followed by service as a C-47 pilot with the 318th Troop Carrier Squadron from February to November 1945.

Lt Ronca returned to the U.S. in November 1945, and then served at Greensboro, North Carolina, Ellington Field, Texas, and Keesler Field, Mississippi, before leaving active duty and joining the Air Force Reserve on December 11, 1946. He joined the Pennsylvania Air National Guard on March 16, 1950, and went back on active duty with the U.S. Air Force on January 10, 1951.

After completing F-86 Sabre transition training, he served with the 335th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Korea from November 1951 to July 1952, and then served with Headquarters Air Force Armament Center (later Air Proving Ground Center) at Eglin AFB, Florida, from July 1952 to February 1960. During his tour in Korea, Lt Ronca was credited with the destruction of 1 MIG-15 in aerial combat.

Capt Ronca next served as an F-100 Super Sabre pilot with the 77th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Wethersfield, England, from February 1960 to July 1963, followed by service as Commander of the 613th Tactical Fighter Squadron at England AFB, Louisiana, from July 1963 until he was killed in action over Laos while on temporary duty to Southeast Asia on February 19, 1965. “(1)

(1) coffeltdatabase.org and the book “F-100 Super Sabre Units of the Vietnam War” by Peter E. Davies and David Menard (2)af.mil;