George L Robinson

Military
Lieutenant-Colonel George L Robinson, a pilot of the 303rd Bomb Group, reads an English newspaper. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257535.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Lt. Colonel George L. Robinson, bomber pilot, serving with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain finds English newspapers a little strange. Aged 30, he has been on 8 raids and holds the Air Medal and two clusters. He was in the Regular Army befo media-378859.jpg FRE 991 Lieutenant-Colonel George L Robinson, a pilot of the 303rd Bomb Group, reads an English newspaper. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257535.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Lt. Colonel George L. Robinson, bomber pilot, serving with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain finds English newspapers a little strange. Aged 30, he has been on 8 raids and holds the Air Medal and two clusters. He was in the Regular Army before the outbreak of war. His home address and that of his mother Mrs N.H. Robinson, is 1135 W. 37th St. Los Angeles, Cal. Not to be published before April 20 1943.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 991 - Lieutenant-Colonel George L Robinson, a pilot of the 303rd Bomb Group, reads an English newspaper. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Current...

He began his military career 28 Apr 1931 when he enlisted as a private in the Air Corps. He became an aviation cadet 25 Jun 1936 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. with pilot's wings 30 Jun 1937 at Kelly Field, TX. From that point he progressed steadily through the officer ranks to full colonel. He was rated as a Command Pilot. He went to combat in WWII with the 303rd BG as Operations Officer and rose to deputy commander there before becoming Commanding Officer of the 306th Bomb Group. He flew his first mission as Command Pilot of B-17F #41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS (See Biography events UNDER CONSTRUCTION).



Fourth and longest serving group commander of the 306th from 20-Jun-43 to 23-Sep-44. Flew 26 missions. Several times he led the entire 8th AF on missions. He completed 26 missions.



He flew first mission with the 306th on 25 Jun 1943 and his last was on 05 September 1944. He transferred home on 23 Sept. 1944. Upon returning, he became director of the Aircraft Division, Air Force Board, Washington DC. He then attended the Army Command and Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. His next assignment was with the SAC, in command of various bases, groups, and a B-47 wing. He left SAC in 1958 and was deputy commander of the Air Technical Training Center until retirement in 1961.



Silver Star, DFC w/ 2Oak Leaf Cluster, AM w/ 6 Oak Leaf Cluster,



Colonel Robinson then became Director of Florida State Civil Defence until finally retiring in 1973.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

Staff Sergeant Richard C. Fortunak of the 303rd Bomb Group, checks his machine gun on his B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 25 Jan 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Staff Sgt. Richard C. Fortunak, 1260 West 17th Avenue, Gary, Ind., Waist Gunner in a Fortress, which he and his crew mates have named "Hoosier Kid", adjusts gun in his turret. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Cens
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The 8 Ball
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Sergeant Vernon E. Carlson, of the 303rd Bomb Group, paints the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Holy Mackeral". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: '"Everything under control" is the optimistic message sent by Sgt. Vernon E. Carlson of the Air Corps, whose home is at 1431 N. Mayfield Ave, Chicago. He used to be with the Goetz Elevator Co. He is 29 and unmarried. O.P.S. shows him painting "Holy Mackerel" on a plane.' On reverse: Current Affairs Ltd, US Army Press C
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Holy Mackerel
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
Lieutenant Fort W. Lipe of the 303rd Bomb Group, signals 'V for Victory' from the cockpit of his B-17 Flying Fortress (GN-T, serial number 41-24610 ) nicknamed "Joe Btfsplk II". Passed for publication 16 Dec 1942. Printed caption on reverse: 'Lt. Fort W. Lipe, of the Air Corps, of Irving, Illinois was with the Owens-Illinois Glass Co. He is 23 and is engaged to Miss Edith Kesinger, of 314 North-St., Normal, Illinois. His greeting is silent, optimistic and emphatic. As O.P.S. he sends it in the V sign.' On
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Joe Btfsplk II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron

Missions

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97904) nicknamed "Lady Janette" of the 452nd Bomb Group drops bombs over the target. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Stuttgart 5 Sept 44. 452 BG Mott A/C.'
  • Date: 5 September 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Hanover, Illinois 23 April 1912

Enlisted

28 April 1931 Enlisted as a Private in the US Army Air Corps.

Other

Aviation Cadet

San Antonio, TX, USA 25 June 1936 Became an Aviation Cadet at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas

Other

Commissioned as Pilot

San Antonio, TX, USA 30 June 1937 Commissioned as a 2LT and earned his Pilot wings at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas.

Other

Promotion in Rank

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 12 January 1942 Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Other

Appointed Executive Officer

Pendleton, OR 97801, USA 19 March 1942 Appointed Executive Office of 303BG with the rank of Captain, Pendleton Field, Pendleton, Oregon.

Other

Arrival in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 21 October 1942 Arrived in the UK with the 303BG/359BS at Molesworth, UK.

Other

Appointed Squadron Commander

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 25 October 1942 Appointed as the Squadron Commanding Officer 303BG/427BS with the rank of Major.

Other

Mission #1, MAJ George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 17 November 1942 Served as the Group Command Pilot of B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, MAJ George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24609, 303BG/359BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 23 November 1942 Served as Group Command Pilot of B-17F 41-24609 "Holy Mackerel", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS

Rouen, France 12 December 1942 Served as Group Command Pilot of B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Roeun France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24609, 303BG/359BS - Aborted

Lorient, France 30 December 1942 Served as Group Command Pilot of B-17F 41-24609 "Holy Mackerel", 303BG/359BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie.

Other

Mission #5, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24610, 303BG/427BS

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Group Command Pilot of B-17F 41-24610 JoeBTFSPLK", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Saint-Nazaire, France 16 February 1943 Served as Group Command Pilot of B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France, but mechanical failures forced him to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #7, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Rotterdam, Netherlands 4 March 1943 Served as Group Command Pilot of B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rotterdam, Holland. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #8, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS

Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany 18 March 1943 Served as Group Command Pilot of B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar", 303BG/427BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat construction yards at Vegesack, Germany. RTB OK.

Died

18 November 1994

Buried

23 November 1994

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

306th Echoes Oct.'94

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 18-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/024.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 4-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 16-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/016.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Made connections to Missions of 23-Jan-43, 16-Feb-43, and 4-Mar-43 per 303BG Mission Reports for those dates: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Corrected Rank in Missions #3 & 4 events per 303BG, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Promoted in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 30-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/007.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 20-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 12-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/006.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Mission #2 eent per 303Bg website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 23-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/004.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Appointed Squadron Commander event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: Personnel Roster: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Arrived in UK per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Arrived in UK per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Appointed Executive Officer event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Personnel Roster: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Enlistment, Aviation Cadet & Commissioned as Pilot events per AAM website Biography page.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Made connections to 303BG and first two missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added 1st mission statement to Summary Biography per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Personnel Roster http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 10-Nov-2014. Award & Mission associations.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://303rdbg.com/rost-rs.html#R, cousin, First Over Germany pgs. 110, 131-139, 149-51, 154-55, 159, 181, 188, 192-93, 196-98, 258-59, 280 & 322;

http://www.306bg.org/PDFs/oct2008Bweb.pdf,

George L Robinson: Gallery (4 items)