Robert Swinton Postle, Jr.

ROBERT (BOB) SWINTON POSTLE, Jr.

Robert (Bob) Swinton Postle Jr., a World War II veteran and an aeronautical engineer whose work included design of the first American jet aircraft, died on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, at his home in Olathe, Kansas, surrounded by his family including his wife of 66 years, Cameron. He was 94.

Private family services are planned with full military honors provided by the Olathe American Legion Post.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Hospice of Olathe Medical Center, 20375 W. 151st St., Suite 363, Olathe, KS 66061; St. Labre Indian School, 1000 Tongue River Rd., Ashland, MT 59003, or The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA, 22203.

Robert was born on March 24, 1922, in London, Ohio, to Dr. Robert Swinton Postle and Marie (Sauder) Postle.

After graduating from London (Ohio) High School, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from Indiana Technical Institute, Fort Wayne, in 1943. He later pursued Advanced Studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Johns Hopkins University.

He launched his career as an aeronautical engineer at Bell Aircraft-Textron Marine Systems in Buffalo, New York. There, he did design work on the first American jet, the Bell P-59 Aircomet, before entering the U.S. Army in 1944.

Bob proudly served his country as a member of the 11th Armored Division from 1944 to 1946 as a rifleman and radioman. He and his platoon took part in campaigns that included the Battle of the Bulge, action in Linz, Austria, and the occupation of Germany. He earned the EAME Theatre Ribbon with three Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal World War II and Army of Occupation Medal Germany.

After the war, he returned to Bell and contributed to the building of the post-war fighter jet XP-83. It was at Bell that he met Greta Cameron Donaldson, who was also an aeronautical engineer. They were married in Buffalo on April 26, 1950.

His expertise was called upon in design of the first supersonic jets; Bell X-1, X-1A and the swept-wing X-2. Many projects later, he was appointed general manager of the LCAC landing craft project in New Orleans, Louisiana. The LCAC, a leading-edge technology, air-cushioned surface effect landing craft developed for the U.S. Navy, was used in Kuwait and the Iraq war. It is being used around the world for humanitarian relief operations, most recently in Haiti and Bangladesh.

After he retired from Bell in 1987, Bob enjoyed devoting more time to golf, and the challenge of matching his age by his golf score; fly-fishing Western streams and rivers; reading, and traveling with family and friends.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Cameron D. Postle; sons Robert (Roberta) Cairns Postle of Salida, Colorado, and David (Sarah) Cameron Postle of Olathe, Kansas; daughter Mary (Pete) Greta Postle-Floyd of Loddon, England, and grandchildren Conner Everett Postle, Hayden Robert Postle-Floyd and Kenneth Marshall Postle-Floyd.

The family would like to thank the staff at Olathe Medical Center Hospice for the kind and loving care they provided him in his final days at home.