Edward Watson Robarts

Military

Also completed 18 missions with 15th AF in Italy from January 1944 to May 1944, 376th BG 513th BS. Recalled March 1951. Completed Navigation School. Assigned 306th Bomb Wing, McDill AFB March 1953. Discharged August 1953



DFC/ AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster/ ETO 6 stars

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from the Mighty Eighth Museum



Betty Robarts was born and raised in Northern Minnesota. When America became involved in World War II, Betty was eager to do her part for the war effort. Betty joined the WAVES (Women’s Navy) in January 1943. Betty hoped she might be stationed near the beach but the Navy assigned her to Dayton, Ohio. Betty worked on war materials but learned in 1995 exactly how important her work for the WAVES had been. Betty had been assigned to a top secret classified program entitled ULTRA. This program made the machines which decoded messages written by the German Enigma coding machine. Betty was interviewed and featured in a documentary titled “Dayton Codebreakers” about the ULTRA program.



Betty met her husband Ed through writing letters after a Navy friend suggested they meet. Ed was serving with the 8thAF after being transferred from his original deployment to the 15thAF in Italy. They married in June 1945 upon his return to America. Ed completed 18 missions with the 15thAF and 24 missions with the 8thAF as a B-24 co-pilot. He received the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the ETO campaign ribbon with six battle stars.



After the war, Ed graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Ed had remained in the Air Force Reserve and was recalled to active duty in March 1951 and was assigned to the B-47 program after Navigation training. However the death of his younger brother in an F84 training accident and the previous WWII death of his other brother in a B-17 in the Pacific, Ed decided to work as a civilian. Ed worked for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft for fifteen years and Lycoming Turbine Engines for sixteen years. He retired in 1984 and they moved to a farm in Screven County, Georgia near where he was born. They have three children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.



Betty and Ed have been very active with the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum since before it opened. Unfortunately, Ed passed away in August of 2009. Betty continues to volunteer weekly at the museum to help younger generations understand exactly how effected everyone in America was by WWII.





Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The 'semiofficial' insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Halcyondale, Georgia 26 May 1922

Died

Statesboro, Georgia, USA 22 August 2009

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added middle name and nickname per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 107600716. Added Died event per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 107600716.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added unit connections to the 8th AF and to 15th AF.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added 2 awards mentioned in the "Summary biography" section.

Date
ContributorKD4ITI
Changes
Sources

Dave Wentzel
CAM

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self