Robert (Bob) Copeland was bitten by the "aviation bug" as a teen-ager growing up in Lewiston Idaho in the 1930's. In addition to the recent trans-atlantic flight of Charles Lindbergh, there was also an airport in Lewiston with a flying service and real pilots to tell stories of flying adventures to a captivated audience of young men…including Bob.

Along with hanging out at the airport whenever possible, these young men also built and flew "free flight" gas engine powered model airplanes together, in their spare time.

One of Bob's friends was my father, Junior Gentry. Junior was also bitten by the "aviation bug." Bob and Junior built and flew their model airplanes together. By the time they reached high school age, Junior relocated with his parents to Grangeville Idaho, some 80 miles from Lewiston. The friendship continued, in spite of the distance, they would travel to meet and fly model airplanes together, whenever possible. Their favorite place to fly their models near Grangeville was on a plateau in Graves Creek canyon on land that Junior's parents had homesteaded years earlier.

As Bob and Junior neared high school graduation, World War 2 was well under way. While flying models on the Graves Creek canyon plateau, they decided that they were both going to enlist in the Army Air Corps and become pilots. If one of them didn't survive, then the other one (provided they survived) would construct a monument of some sort to their fallen comrade.

Bob Copeland graduated from pilot training December 4, 1943 at Moffet Field, Texas. He was later stationed in Saipan as a co-pilot on B-29 bombers, flying missions over Japan. On March 17, 1945, his aircraft didn't return from a bombing mission.

Junior Gentry "washed out" of pilot training and had to settle for a career as an airplane mechanic in the army air corps.

Years later, Junior and his son erected a monument to Bob on the plateau in Graves Creek canyon to fulfill the promise they had made to each other.

Robert E. Copeland, a true american hero!

Robert E Copeland