Robert Wilson Vincent

Military
Lieutenant Vincent of the 458th Bomb Group outside the officers club. Image via Lieutenant Vincent. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'In front of the combat officers club at Horsham- one of those Raleigh Racers was mine.' media-380718.jpg FRE 1912 Lieutenant Vincent of the 458th Bomb Group outside the officers club. Image via Lieutenant Vincent. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'In front of the combat officers club at Horsham- one of those Raleigh Racers was mine.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 1912 - Lieutenant Vincent of the 458th Bomb Group outside the officers club. Image via Lieutenant Vincent. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'In front of the...

Robert W Vincent flew 35 combat missions, 5 Truckin' and 2 weather missions with the 458th Bomb Group. Was assigned to the Azon Project (radio controlled bombs). The Azon aircraft was named 'A Dog's Life'.



Was involved in an incident that several military historians described as unparralleled in WWII. During a mission to Metz, he discovered the group was lining up on a friendly target. He advised the group leader but was rebuffed. He broke formation and led his element, and another element followed, bombing the correct target. Historians named the action, 'Vincent's Rebellion. He was threatened with a court-martial, vindicated by General Patton and was promoted.



Was assigned as project officer for infrared satelite, U-2 support and NATO. Was a career officer and retired in 1971.



DFC/ AM w/ 4 Oak Leaf Cluster/ ARCR w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster/ ADSM/ ACM/ WW II VM/ NDSM w/ 1 BSS/ AFLSA w/ 4 Oak Leaf Cluster/ EAME w/ 6 BSS/ AFOUA w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster

Connections

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Units served with

Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'

458th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

42-110070

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Lady Luck - Elmer
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Welty, Oklahoma 9 July 1920

Based

Horsham St Faith

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Combined two entries. Now includes information from the following sources:
458bg.com & http://www.458bg.com/crewaz07morford.htm / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / document & Page 432 in the book 2ND AIR DIVISIONby Turner Publishing Company, 1998 edition (D790.A2S45)

Robert Wilson Vincent: Gallery (8 items)

Lieutenant Reilley, Lieutenant Fields and Lieutenant Vincent of the 458th Bomb Group stand outside a "Glass Palace" Club. Image via Lieutenant Vincent. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Old Cotton-Lt Reilly, Lt Fields, Lt Vincent. Front of "Glass Palace" club for new flyers.'

Object number: FRE 1906 - Lieutenant Reilley, Lieutenant Fields and...

Airmen of the 458th Bomb Group gather outside a hangar after a mission. Image via Lieutenant Vincent Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Intill smoke cigars, 753rd Hangar & operations. Kania W/O cap, Cullet W/ Cap, Vincent with cigar.'

Object number: FRE 1907 - Airmen of the 458th Bomb Group gather outside a...

A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40281) nicknamed "A Dogs Life". Image via Lieutenant Vincent. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew 24, Sub co-pilot- Unk, Pilot Lt Vincent, Req Co-pilot- Lt Cronkite, Bombiagtor [sic] Lt Halvorsen, Genner- Sgt Johnson, RO- Valenzvela, Sgt, Eng- Sgt Lohr, GRR- Moss, Sgt, Sub Eng- Unk, Sub Gnr- Unk, Reg NT Gnr- wounded in hosp, Sgt Simpson.

Object number: FRE 1908 - A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B...

Lieutenant Vincent of the 458th Bomb Group outside the officers club. Image via Lieutenant Vincent. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'In front of the combat officers club at Horsham- one of those Raleigh Racers was mine.'

Object number: FRE 1912 - Lieutenant Vincent of the 458th Bomb Group outside...

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40281) nicknamed "A Dog's Life" of the 458th Bomb Group. Image via Lieutenant Vincent. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Faris, My 35th Mission, 27 Dec 1944.'

Object number: FRE 1914 - A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40281)...

A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40291) nicknamed "Royal Flush". Image via Lieutenant Vincent. Handwritten inscription on image: 'England July 4, 1944.... Crew of- "The Royal Flush".' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew 29, Note figure Cat from Royal Flush. Lt Morford- Pilot, Lt Vincent- co-pilot, Lt Butler- Bombardier, Lt Strand- Navigator, Sgt Kania- Eng, -KN-, Sgt Morales- Gnr, Sgt Weight- Gnr, Sgt Fowler- Gnr, Sgt Betts- Gnr, SSgt Aillet- R.O.'

Object number: FRE 1917 - A bomber crew of the 458th Bomb Group with their B...

Object number: UPL 27050 - Posing next to B-24J - 42-110070 - Z5-E - named...

Object number: UPL 27053 - Crew members of the 754th Bomb Squadron, the 458th...