Robert George Williams
Military
4th Fighter Group Association
Object Number - UPL 21058 - Capt. Robert G. 'Digger' Williams of the 334FS, 4FG 8AF, and 'Duke'. Digger was a former RCAF/RAF Sgt Pilot with 611 RAF Sqn.
In 1938, he received initial flight instruction as an aviation cadet at the US Naval Air Station, Pensacola. In Oct-40, he enlisted in the RCAF and entered flight training school, receiving his commission as a Sgt pilot in Oct-41. Robert was then assigned to 611 Squadron of the RAF and transferred to Scotland Nov-41. Robert flew 33 combat missions with the RAF flying Spitfires [Mk IIa to Mk IX]. Transferred to USAAF and assigned to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF Sep-42. After 104 combat missions over Europe he baled out of P-51 43-6869 on 21-Mar-44 near Angers, France after a/c sprung a glycol leak after strafing airfields in Bordeaux area. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 3373.
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (3OLC), PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Post war: Distinguished 28 year career with the USAF, serving as a fighter pilot instructor, jet bomber pilot, bombing Wing Commander, ICBM missile combat commander, sector commander in the 551st Strategic Missile Squadron and base commander in SAC. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in Aug 1970.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Lisbon, OH, USA | 26 September 1919 | Son of George B and Virginia M Williams. |
|
Other Shot down |
Angers, France | 21 March 1944 | Baled out of P-51 43-6869 on 21-Mar-44 near Angers after a/c sprung a glycol leak after strafing airfield in Bordeaux. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 3373. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 21 March 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft I. |
|
Died |
Pinellas County, FL, USA | 20 August 2012 | |
|
Buried |
8 March 2013 | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington Arlington County Virginia, USA. | |
| St Petersburg, Florida, USA | |||
|
Other Flight training |
Pensacola, FL, USA | Initial flight instruction US Navy. | |
|
Other Enlisted RCAF |
Canada | Enlisted RCAF. Commissioned Sgt pilot Oct-41. | |
|
Other Assigned |
Hornchurch, Greater London, UK | Assigned to 611 Sqn RAF. Hornchurch - [Nov-41] Drem - [Nov-41/Jun-42] Kenley - [Jun/Jul-42] Martlesham Heath - [Jul-42] Redhill - [Jul-42] | |
|
Other Retired USAF |
United States | Retired USAF with rank of Lt Colonel. | |
|
Other Transferred / Assigned |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 21 March 1944 | Transferred to USAAF, assigned to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3373 / MACR 3373, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
