Robert R. "Bob" Craner

By zthanson, 27 December, 2022
First Name
Robert
Middle Name
R.
Last Name
Craner
Birthdate
Hometown
Cohoes, New York
Rank
Colonel
Service Branch
Air Force
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
Man in a decorated U.S. Air Force suit.
PreCapture Description

Bob Craner enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Air Force on February 2, 1953, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on May 19, 1954. After completing All Weather Interceptor training in the F-94C Starfire, he served at Goose AB, Labrador, Canada, until May 1956, when he began Undergraduate Pilot Training at Greenville AFB, Mississippi. Craner was awarded his pilot wings in May 1957, and then completed F-84F Thunderstreak and F-100 Super Sabre upgrade training. Lieutenant Craner served with the 8th Fighter Bomber Squadron at Etain AB, France, from February 1958 to August 1959, and then at Spangdahlem AB, West Germany, until August 1961. Captain Craner next served as an instructor pilot in the F-100 Super Sabre combat crew training program with the 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada, from August 1961 to August 1967, when he was sent to Southeast Asia. Craner served as a Misty Fast FAC at Phu Cat AB in the Republic of Vietnam from August 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on December 12, 1967. 

 

Post Release Image
Three military officers standing together. Two of them shaking hands.
Post Release Description

Craner was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized at Andrews AFB, Maryland, to recover from his injuries and then attended Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, through an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment. After graduating in June 1976 and attending further training in Washington, D.C., Colonel Craner served as Air Attache with the American Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, followed by duty as Air Attache to Budapest, Hungary. He returned to the United States in September 1980 and began training for his next assignment as Air Attache to Honduras, but he died of a heart attack on October 3, 1980, while on active duty. Colonel Craner was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, and his widow, Audrey Evelyn Craner (1927-1993) is buried with him. Bob Craner was Misty 17.

Honors, Citations, and Commendations
  • Silver Star (3)
  • Legion of Merit
  • Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Bronze Star (4)
  • Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release