Robert Earl Falke Papers

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of materials relating to Robert Earl Falke's career in the U.S. Marine Corps including log books covering his entire service; correspondence; photo postcards; photographs; news clippings; a World Travel Service, Ltd. schedule and map of Bangkok, Thailand; an English/Vietnamese translation leaflet; official military orders; a Naval Air Basic Training Command publication entitled "[North American] T-28 [Trojan] Radio Instruments Maneuver Description;" a scrapbook created by Falke of his time in Vietnam; and a USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Reunion directory from 1989. The photographs range in size from 3.5 by 3.5 inches to 4 by 6 inches and are a mix of color and black and white prints. The photographs show daily life on base in Vietnam. The scrapbook includes additional photographs, postcards, military orders, and news clippings.

Biographical / Historical

Robert Earl Falke (1942-2009) was born in California. He attended San Jose State College and graduated with a two-year degree in Aeronautics. In 1963, Falke joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Falke served in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot flying Sikorsky (S-58) HUS-1 (UH-34D) Seahorse aircraft. Falke later was an instructor for flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida in North American T-28 Trojan aircraft. Falke was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1969 and went to work as a civilian pilot for United Airlines. Falke was with United Airlines for 37 years until his retirement.