Lt. Col. (Ret.) Rubel V. Archuleta (1914-2010) earned his World War II decorations the hard way - he got them flying P-39s and P-40s in the Southwest Pacific at a time when P-38s and P-51s were the Army Air Corps weapons of choice.
As a leader of P-40 units over the Philippines during the years 1944 and 1945, he earned numerous commendations for leading attacks on Japanese shipping. On one occasion, spotting an enemy force approaching the American base on Mindoro Island, he led relentless nighttime attacks. Although their P-40s were not equipped for night fighting nor his pilots trained for it, Major Archuleta and his warriors bombed and strafed at mast level from early evening until after midnight. Though hampered by poor visibility and murderous anti-aircraft fire, the defenders sank or damaged several ships carrying equipment, supplies and troops that had been sent to attack the American installation.
Archuleta earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Silver Star and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.
He was born on September 16, 1914 in New Mexico. He was graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from New Mexico State University in 1941 and joined the Air Corps, was commissioned a second lieutenant in November 1941 and, before the year was out, married Noema Cardenan. The young officer was soon dispatched to the Southwest Pacific where he flew 210 missions for a wartime total of 216 hours in P-39s, lll in P-40s and 42 in P-51s.
After the war, Archuleta continued in the military. In the 1950s he was commander of the air-rescue squadron at Puerto Rico. From 1960 to 1966, he was stationed at Dover Air Force Base where he flew "0l' Shakey," the C-124 Globemaster. He retired as deputy base commander, and he gave an additional 10 years to the Delaware Commission for the Blind.
The Archuletas raised three children in Dover: James Thomas of Aurora, Col; Claudia Ann Ecker of Winterville, N.C.; and Sylvia A. Irons of Spring Hill, Fla.
