About Robert J. Steele
After earning a degree in Electrical Engineering at Georgia Tech, I served 27 years in the United States Air Force as a communications engineer. During my career, I helped implement digital and information age technologies in support of military missions from the Cold War through the latest engagements in the middle east, including a tour as a Presidential Communications officer at the White House.
I wrote a non-fiction book titled “The Last Flight of El Flako,” which tells the story of ten young men who served as the crew of a B-24 bomber stationed in England during World War II. One of these men was my uncle, Dewey Dey Steele. Tragically, on their first mission, the plane was struck by a flak shell, and all crew members lost their lives. However, their courage and sacrifice continue to be remembered, as they are honored regularly by communities in England, The Netherlands, and Belgium who recognize “the sacrifice their families and their nation made for our freedom.” I have presented to professional organizations, community groups, family gatherings, as well as museums and historical societies about the story of El Flako. Additionally, I have provided guidance to others on writing and publishing books.
Veteran
Following his graduation from Georgia Tech, Bob was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force. During his 27-year career, he served as director of communications for a joint special operations task force in southern Afghanistan, directed Air Force communications in southwest Asia at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, commanded Air Force and joint special mission units, and served as a presidential communications officer in the White House Communications Agency. His final assignment was as commander of the Air Force Communications Agency.
Author
The Last Flight of El Flako
From the tragic loss of courageous airmen who gave their lives for our freedom to the gentle breezes that swirl through graves in a quiet cemetery in Belgium’s countryside, Bob Steele takes on a personal journey of history and revelation as he recounts the story of his uncle, a gunner on a World War II bomber, and his own personal quest to uncover the fates of the crewmen, their families, and gracious Europeans who honored them. Any fan of Eighth Air Force history and the sacrifices made by American airmen in the defeat of the Third Reich will find this story informative, poignant, and well worth the read.
Speaker
Bob is an experienced professional speaker and has addressed groups of various sizes on a wide array of topics. His most recent speaking engagements are on the topic of his first book, The Last Flight of El Flako. This book describes the lives of ten young men who served together on their first and last B-24 bomber mission over Germany in 1944.
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