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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 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 Not to be published before April 20 1943.'](http://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-378859.jpg?itok=xPG4Ml62)
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 Not to be published before April 20 1943.'
"Lead crew on bombing mission pose beside a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 5 April 1943." Rear L-R: Lt Col George L Robinson, Capt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Glenn E. Hagenbuch, Capt Albert W. Dieffenbach, Major Frank J Doherty Front L-R: T/Sgt Dale F. Brandfas, S/Sgt Edward Z. Harmon, T/Sgt Joe Ray Gray, T/Sgt James C. Baart, S/Sgt Robert K Sink, S/Sgt Joseph E. Serpa
"Lead crew on the 303rd Bomb Group, England, pose in front of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. 18 March 1943." Rear L-R: Capt Walter M. Soha, Col George L. Robinson, Capt Albert W. Dieffenbach, Capt Glenn E. Hagenbuch. Front L-R: S/Sgt Delvyn Smith, T/Sgt Dale F. Brandfas, Sgt Ward M. Kirkpatrick, S/Sgt Edward Z. Harmon, T/Sgt Charles E Zipfel, Sgt George W. Henderson.
"Lead crew on bombing mission to Rotterdam, Holland in front of the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Ooold Soljer'. 303rd Bomb Group, England. 4 March 1943." Rear L-R: 1Lt Reinaldo J Saiz, 1Lt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Lewis E Lyle, Lt Col George L. Robinson, 1Lt Otis Allen Hoyt. Front L-R: Sgt Tom McGiffin, T/Sgt Gene K. Smith, T/Sgt Woodrow W Smith, T/Sgt Clayton S. Balcombe, T/Sgt Martin A. Semonick, S/Sgt Edward A. Bradford.
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.
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New...
Group
Constituted as 306th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained for combat with B-17's. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF Eighth Air Force in September 1942 Station 111 Thurleigh. During combat,...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball" was assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-O] with its crew on 1-Jul-42 at Alamogordo Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico. The aircraft and crew were sent to Dow Field Bangor, Maine on 4-Oct-42 to prepare for overseas deployment; Molesworth...
B-17 Flying Fortress
B-17F 41-24609 'Holy Mackerel' assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-Q] Bangor 3-Oct-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42. On 23-Nov-43 the aircraft flown by Maj. George L. Robinson was the lead aircraft of the 303BG formation in the attack on the U-Boat Pens at St. Nazaire,...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned 427BS/303BG [GN-T] Bangor 5/10/42; Molesworth 25/10/42.
...
17 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) target for a combined force of 49 B-17s despatched from 91BG (20), 303BG (16) and 306BG (13). Another element of 14 B-24s despatched from 93BG also joins the bombing force on St. Nazaire. The...
23 November 1942
The U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are the Primary (P) for this mission. A combined force of 50 B-17s despatched from 91BG (10), 303BG (12), 305BG (20) and 306BG (8) to attack this target. 91BG is not able to put any of their group on the target,...
23 January 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at Lorient, France are the primary target for this mission. 305th Bombardment Group is selected as the lead group, but condensation on the bombsight of the lead aircraft in the Group prevents the 305BG from bombing Lorient...
16 February 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are designated as the primary target of this mission of 71 B-17s and 18 B-24s. B-17s are from 91BG (18); 303BG (15); 305BG (18); 306BG (20) of these 59 are effective on the target and 6 are lost....
4 March 1943
After several weather-caused aborted attempts in attacking the marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, the 8th Air Force is finally successful in attacking this target. A total of 71 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (20); 303BG (18); 305BG (12) amd 306BG (21)....
18 March 1943
The U-Boat pens at Vegesack-Bremen are the primary target of this mission. 76 B-17s are despatched: 91BG (18); 303BG (20); 305BG (18) and 306BG (20). These are joined by 17 B-24's: 44BG (9) and 93BG (15). Of the 103 aircraft despatched 97 are effective...
25 June 1943
This mission was intended to be the first major attack on the industrial area of Hamburg, Germany but weather and contrails made fromation flying too difficult and dangerous. As a result, the main formation 197 B-17s from: 91BG (18); 92BG (23); 303BG ...
5 September 1944
Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
Military site : airfield
Built for RAF use in 1941-42, Thurleigh was initially used by RAF Bomber Command before being handed over to the Eighth Air Force. Its runways and hardstandings were improved, and the B-17s of the 306th Bomb Group began using the base. It was their...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Hanover, Illinois | 23 April 1912 |
| Enlisted | 28 April 1931 | |
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Enlisted as a Private in the US Army Air Corps. |
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| Aviation Cadet | San Antonio, TX, USA | 25 June 1936 |
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Became an Aviation Cadet at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas |
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| Commissioned as Pilot | San Antonio, TX, USA | 30 June 1937 |
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Commissioned as a 2LT and earned his Pilot wings at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas. |
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| Promotion in Rank | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 12 January 1942 |
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Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. |
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| Appointed Executive Officer | Pendleton, OR 97801, USA | 19 March 1942 |
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Appointed Executive Office of 303BG with the rank of Captain, Pendleton Field, Pendleton, Oregon. |
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| Arrival in UK | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 21 October 1942 |
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Arrived in the UK with the 303BG/359BS at Molesworth, UK. |
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| Appointed Squadron Commander | Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 25 October 1942 |
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Appointed as the Squadron Commanding Officer 303BG/427BS with the rank of Major. |
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| Mission #1, MAJ George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24581, 303BG/359BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 17 November 1942 |
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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. |
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| Mission #2, MAJ George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24609, 303BG/359BS | Saint-Nazaire, France | 23 November 1942 |
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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. |
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| Mission #3, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24569, 303BG/427BS | Rouen, France | 12 December 1942 |
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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. |
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| Mission #4, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24609, 303BG/359BS - Aborted | Lorient, France | 30 December 1942 |
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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. |
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| Mission #5, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24610, 303BG/427BS | Lorient, France | 23 January 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #6, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted | Saint-Nazaire, France | 16 February 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #7, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 4 March 1943 |
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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. |
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| Mission #8, LTC George L. Robinson, w/ B-17F 41-24619, 303BG/427BS | Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany | 18 March 1943 |
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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. |
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| Died | 18 November 1994 | |
| Buried | Riverside National Cemetery, California buried 23 Nov 1994 | 23 November 1994 |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 23 December 2020 11:01:55 | Helen | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
306th Echoes Oct.'94 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 February 2020 04:03:53 | jmoore43 | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 March 2016 23:50:13 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 March 2016 23:45:28 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 March 2016 23:42:19 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 March 2016 23:37:24 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 March 2016 23:29:44 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to mission associations |
| 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/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 March 2016 23:26:26 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Corrected Rank in Missions #3 & 4 events per 303BG, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 March 2016 23:24:12 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-May-2016. Added Promoted in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 February 2016 22:39:37 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 February 2016 22:34:07 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography and events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 20:33:02 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 20:29:10 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| 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 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 20:24:32 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Appointed Squadron Commander event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: Personnel Roster: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 20:21:35 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Arrived in UK per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 20:20:56 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Arrived in UK per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 20:15:46 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Appointed Executive Officer event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Personnel Roster: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 20:11:19 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography and events |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Added Enlistment, Aviation Cadet & Commissioned as Pilot events per AAM website Biography page. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 20:01:47 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to unit associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 12-Dec-2015. Made connections to 303BG and first two missions per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 December 2015 19:51:14 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography |
| 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/ |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 10 November 2014 21:10:59 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to biography, awards, events, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 10-Nov-2014. Award & Mission associations. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:11:02 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| 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; |
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