Robert J. Mohler
Age: 93
Born: Jan. 7, 1918
Hometown: North Canton, Ohio
Residence: Yucca Valley
Military branch: U.S. Navy; Dive bomber pilot; served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7); Squadron VS-71; Task Force 11; Task Force 18
Years served: World War II: March, 1941 - October, 1945; Korea: November, 1951 - October, 1954
Rank: Retired as Commander
Family: Wife Marjorie Jane (deceased); two sons, Robert Mohler of Yucca Valley and John Mohler of Temecula; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
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U.S. Navy dive bomber pilot Lt. Robert J. Mohler returned from a mission on the night of Sept. 15, 1942, to find his squadron's aircraft carrier, the USS Wasp, on fire — and sinking.
Nearly seven hours earlier, eight F4F fighter planes and 18 Dauntless SBD-3 dive bombers were launched from the Wasp's carrier deck to search for enemy ships lurking in the Pacific Ocean.
About 25 minutes after the aircraft went airborne, a Japanese submarine fired three torpedoes into the USS Wasp, quickly setting the vessel ablaze.
Of more than 2,200 officers and crew aboard the USS Wasp, 173 were killed and 400 injured in the attack.
“The Japanese sub, I-19, sat on the bottom of the ocean and waited until the convoy came right over him,” Mohler said.
The sub fired three additional torpedoes, which sped under the hull of the Wasp — one hit the battleship USS North Carolina, while the other two struck the destroyer USS O'Brien.
The pilots had no knowledge of the tragedy that was unfolding. Orders of radio silence were strictly followed. They learned of the attack when they returned from their missions.
“I loved that ship,” Mohler said. “It was a good one. I was so sad that ship was hurt.”
The Wasp's sister ship, the USS Hornet, made space on its flight deck for the sinking carrier's 26 returning aircraft. With the loss of the Wasp, Lt. Mohler and the other pilots were reassigned to fly missions with Marine pilots on Guadalcanal.
Mohler graduated from Ohio State University in 1939, but since there was no work for engineers at the time, he became a professional photographer and opened a photography studio in North Canton, Ohio.
With the U.S. entry into World War II imminent, Mohler enlisted in the Navy in March of 1941.
By the time the U.S. declared war on Japan, Mohler had earned his wings and was a trained fighter and dive bomber pilot.
“Flying is marvelous,” Mohler said. “To take a plane out and fly it is a joy. I loved piloting.”
Following advanced aircraft carrier landing and takeoff training, Mohler was assigned to the USS Wasp in mid-March of 1942.
Flying with Squadron VS-71 in combat during the Battle of the Solomon Islands, Mohler provided air support and cover for Marines and Allied forces during invasion operations on Guadalcanal.
At one point, Mohler was jumped by an enemy Zero fighter plane.
During the dog fight in the sky, Mohler took numerous evasive actions to “shake” the enemy.
By the time the shooting was over, Mohler's dive bomber had been shredded by the enemy pilot's cannon fire.
The Zero broke off and returned to defend his ship — while Mohler and his navigator/gunner and their soon-to-be-scrapped aircraft, limped back to Guadalcanal.
Mohler, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for helping sink a Japanese cruiser and tanker, was discharged in October of 1945.
He returned to active duty during the Korean War, serving as a commander on the escort carrier, USS Sicily, based out of Okinawa, Japan.
Staff writer Denise Goolsby will profile desert veterans from World War II on Sundays. Contact her at (760) 778-4587 or via e-mail at denise.goolsby@thedesertsun.com
