The family of a World War II gunner who went missing in action 72 years ago will be presented with a U.S. flag during a special Honor Guard ceremony Monday at Mountain View Cemetery near Ronan.

U.S. Army Air Corps Gunner Robert Needham of Ronan parachuted into the English Channel on July 5, 1944, after a heroic attempt to save a burning bomber. He was never found.

Needham’s younger brother, Tom Needham, 81, of Somers has spent a lifetime keeping Robert’s memory alive. To that end, an exhibit of photographs, news clippings and memorabilia of Robert Needham’s life is on display at the Miracle of America Museum in Polson.

Tom was attending a Memorial Day event in Polson last year when he inquired what it would take to have a flag presentation in honor of his brother.

“One thing led to another,” he said, and he found himself in touch with state veterans officials, who advised him an Honor Guard ceremony could be held. He would first have to apply for a death certificate for Robert because one had never been officially issued.

As a 19-year-old Montana hunter and a “crack marksman,” Robert Needham had been specially selected by his commanding officer to be the “top gun” of the 409th Bombardment Group. The group supported ground forces during the Battle of Normandy by hitting railroad lines, bridges, gun batteries and communication centers.

Robert saw lots of action during his year and a half in the Air Corps, flying a total of 50 missions.

On D-Day, June 6, 1944, he was in his command position when he suffered flack wounds to his face. He spent the rest of that month recovering, and by July 4 was granted a one-day leave before heading back to his post.

The next day during heavy aerial combat over the English Channel, Robert’s plane was hit by a howitzer shell. Robert and his navigator reacted quickly to the fire and remained aboard, fighting the blaze as it intensified. When all of the extinguishers had been exhausted and the fire was still raging, the two were forced to parachute out of the plane.

With communication cut off, the commander, still in the cockpit, had no idea his crew had been forced to bail out. He was able to crash-land the damaged aircraft and survived without injury.

Robert was among many soldiers tossed around in the rough water that day; several were rescued but Robert was not found. He received two Purple Hearts for his war efforts.

Tom and one of his four daughters, Kimberlie Chenoweth of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, will attend the Ronan/Polson Honor Guard ceremony. A flag will be presented to Tom and Chenoweth will accept a second flag for Tom’s remaining sibling, Rachel Newlin, who is unable to attend.

The Memorial Day parade in Ronan begins at noon. A memorial service and the flag presentation will commence at the Mountain View Cemetery following the parade. A lunch is planned about 1:30 p.m. at the Ronan VFW Post 5652, 35981 Round Butte Road.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.