Robert Adams was born on July 22, 1916, in Riga, New York. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 1934, served in Hawaii, and received an honorable discharge in March 1937. Adams was a flying instructor with the Glenn S. Banfield Flyers Service in Horseheads, New York, for several years before enlisting in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on March 11, 1942. He was awarded his pilot wings and commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Army Air Forces in January 1943, and then completed B-26 Marauder training before deploying to England in May 1943. Maj Adams served as a B-26 pilot with the 453rd Bomb Squadron of the 323rd Bomb Group in England from May 1943 to August 1944, in France from August 1944 to May 1945, and then on occupation duty in Germany from May 1945 until he was killed while flying a German aircraft on August 16, 1945. During this time he was forced to bail out of his stricken aircraft over Belgium on January 14, 1945, but was behind Allied lines and made it back to his unit quickly. He had taken Command of the 453rd Bomb Squadron in February 1945. Maj Adams was originally buried in St. Avoid, France, and his remains were repatriated in 1948, and he was buried at the Riga Cemetery in Riga, New York.

His Distinguished Service Cross Citation reads:

For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy, 14 January 1945. On this date, Major Adams led a formation of B-26 aircraft in an attack on an enemy bridge at Stienbrucke, Belgium. During the bombing run, Major Adams' aircraft was seriously crippled by a barrage of anti-aircraft fire. The right engine was critically damaged and the cockpit set on fire. Despite the imminent danger of explosion and the intense heat from the raging fire, Major Adams heroically led the formation over the objective and released his bombs with telling effect. The extraordinary heroism and determination to complete his assigned mission displayed by Major Adams on this occasion are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.