Toop
George  S. "Spanky"  Roberts,  Sr.
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Ribbons
 
  Rank, Service
Colonel O-6,  U.S. Air Force
  Veteran of:
U.S. Army Air Forces 1941-1947
U.S. Air Force 1947-1968
World War II 1941-1945
Cold War 1945-1968
Korean War 1953
  Tribute:

George Roberts was born on September 24, 1918, in London, West Virginia. He graduated from West Virginia State College with a bachelor's degree in 1938, and later attended flight training at the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama, from February to June 1941. Roberts then enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on July 14, 1941, and he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, on March 6, 1942. His first assignment was as an instructor pilot at Tuskegee Army Air Field from March to June 1942, followed by service as a P-40 Warhawk pilot and Commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron at Tuskegee Army Air Field from June to August 1942. He served as Operations Officer of the 99th Fighter Squadron at Tuskegee Army Air Field from August 1942 to April 1943, and then deployed to North Africa from April to July 1943. Maj Roberts next moved with his unit to Sicily in July 1943, and then to Foggia, Italy, in October 1943; serving as Commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron from September 1943 to April 1944. He returned to the United States for leave from April to August 1944, and then returned to Italy as a P-51 Mustang pilot and Commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron from September to October 1944. Lt Col Roberts next served as Deputy Group Commander of the 332nd Fighter Group in Italy from October to November 1944, followed by service as Commanding Officer of the 332nd Fighter Group from November to December 1944. He served as Deputy Group Commander of the 332nd Fighter Group again from December 1944 to June 1945, and then as Commander of the 332nd Fighter Group from June to October 1945. Col Roberts returned to the United States in October 1945, and then served as a Separation Control officer at Godman Field, Kentucky, during January 1946. His next assignment was as the Officers Club Officer with the 2143rd Base Unit at Tuskegee Army Air Field from January to July 1946, followed by service as Base Air Inspector with the 385th Base Unit at Tuskegee Army Air Field from July to December 1946. He served as Assistant Professor of Military Science for Air in the Army ROTC Program at the Tuskegee Institute from December 1946 to June 1949, and then as Professor of Air Science and Tactics with the Air Force ROTC Program at the Tuskegee Institute from July 1949 to November 1950. His next assignment was as Supply and Evacuation Officer with the 363rd Maintenance and Supply Group at Langley AFB, Virginia, from November 1950 to January 1951, followed by service as Commander of the 363rd Supply Squadron at Langley AFB from January to March 1951. He served as Commander of the 47th Supply Squadron at Langley AFB from March to August 1951, and he then attended Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, from September 1951 to June 1952. Col Roberts next attended Jet Transition Training at Moody AFB, Georgia, from August to September 1952, followed by F-86 Sabre training at Nellis AFB, Nevada, from September to December 1952. He served as Commander of the 51st Air Base Group at Suwan AB, South Korea, from January to December 1953, and then as Executive Officer and then Base Supply Officer with the 3345th Maintenance and Supply Group at Chanute AFB, Illinois, from January 1954 to May 1955. Col Roberts next served as Commander of the 3345th Maintenance and Supply Group at Chanute AFB from June 1955 to September 1956, followed by service as Director of Material with the 3345th Technical Training Wing at Chanute AFB from September 1956 to August 1957. He served as Commander of the 3345th Maintenance and Supply Group at Chanute AFB from September 1957 to November 1960, and then as Director of Material for the 313th Air Division at Kadena AB, Okinawa, from November 1960 to June 1963. His next assignment was as Chief of the Control and Warning Systems Division, Director of Material Management, with Headquarters Rome Air Development Center at Griffiss AFB, New York, from August to November 1963, followed by service as Chief of the Air Weapon Control Systems Division at Griffiss AFB from November 1963 to August 1965. He served as the Chief of the Electronic Systems Support Management Division with Headquarters Sacramento Air Material Area at McClellan AFB, California, from August 1965 to April 1966, and then as Chief of the F-104 Systems Support Management Division at McClellan AFB from April 1966 to July 1967. His final assignment was as Special Assistant to the Director of Material Management with Headquarters Sacramento Air Material Area at McClellan AFB from August 1967 until his retirement from the Air Force on March 1, 1968. George Roberts Flew West on March 8, 1984, and was buried at Mount Vernon Memorial Park in Fair Oaks, California.

His Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads:

For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations. Showing a high order of courage, leadership, and professional skill, these gallant air crew members have distinguished themselves throughout many long and hazardous combat missions against the enemy despite severe and adverse weather conditions and enemy opposition by large numbers of fighter aircraft and intense, accurate and heavy anti-aircraft fire. Displaying great combat spirit and aggressiveness, these men have met, engaged, and defeated the enemy regardless of the odds and in spite of the fact that at times their planes were so severely damaged that only by extraordinary skill and fortitude were they able to fighter their way through to the objective and aid in the grave damage inflicted upon the enemy. By their heroism, skill and airmanship, as shown throughout their combat careers, together with their intense devotion to duty during this period of intense combat operations against the enemy, these men have upheld the highest traditions of the Military Service, thereby reflecting great credit upon themselves and the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

  




 


 

 
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