Robert "Bob" G. Ruegg, 27th Bomb Group, then 3rd Bomb Group, and finally USAAF Commander in Chief Alaskan Command

ROBERT "BOB" G. RUEGG
27TH BOMB GROUP
THEN 3RD BOMB GROUP
AND FINALLY USAAF COMMANDER IN CHIEF ALASKAN COMMAND

Flying Cadet Robert Ruegg 1939

Lt. General Robert "Bob" G. Ruegg

Bob Ruegg was one of 25 members of the 27th Bomb Group who were evacuated from the Philippines along with seven pilots of the 24th Pursuit Group on board flying boat A18-10 "Centaurus" of 11 Squadron RAAF. The aircraft was piloted by Squadron Leader Norm Fader and co-piloted by Squadron Leader Mike Seymour.

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Short Empire Flying boat Centaurus A18-10 (ex QANTAS)

They had departed Darwin on 23 December 1941 in RAAF short Empire flying boat which travelled to Brisbane via Groote Eylant, Townsville, Rockhampton, arriving at the Hamilton Reach of the Brisbane River on 24 December 1941.

The arrival of the 27th Bomb Group and the 24th Pursuit Group pilots of the USAAF in Brisbane in the QANTAS flying boat Centaurus was commemorated on 15 August 1998 when a Memorial was unveiled at Bretts Wharf Seafood Restaurant at Bretts Wharf, Hamilton in Brisbane.

Bob Ruegg visited Australia in 2000 and met up with Noel Tunny who had organised for him to meet up again with Mike Seymour, the co-pilot of the Short Empire Flying Boat that brought him to Brisbane on 24 December 1941.