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George S. "Spanky" Roberts (September 24, 1918 - March 8, 1984) was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force and a fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron and 300th Squadron.[1] He was one of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.[2]

In 1950, Roberts became the first African American U.S. Air Force officer to command a racially-integrated unit at Langley Air Force Base.[3]

In July 1941, Roberts entered aviation cadet training with the Tuskegee Airmen's first class of aviation cadets, Class 42-C-SE.[4] In March 6, 1942, Roberts graduated from aviation cadet training with:

  • Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr., future Tuskegee Airmen Commander and future U.S. four-star general;
  • 2nd Lt. Charles DeBow Jr.(Feb 13, 1918 – April 4, 1968),[5];
  • 2nd Lt. Mac Ross (1912-1944),[6]; and
  • 2nd Lt. Lemuel Custis (1915 – 2005).[7]

The members of Class 42-C-SE became America's first ever African-American U.S. Army Air Corps pilots, making Roberts the first African-American military pilot from West Virginia.[8][9]

George S. "Spanky" Roberts, Sr.
Born
George S. Roberts

September 24, 1918
London, West Virginia, Kanawha County, West Virginia, US
DiedMarch 8, 1985(1985-03-08) (aged 66)
Sacramento, California, US
Resting placeMount Vernon Memorial Park, Fair Oaks, California, Sacramento County
Alma materWest Virginia State College now West Virginia State University
Occupations
  • Military officer
  • fighter pilot
Years active1943–1962

Early Life and Family

Roberts was born on September 24, 1918 in London, West Virginia, Kanawha County.[10] Raised in Fairmont, West Virginia, he was the son of Spencer Rpberts and Estella Roberts.[11][12]

In 1934, Roberts graduated from Fairmont’s Dunbar High School. In 1938, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical arts from the historically black college and university West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University).[13]

Roberts married Edith Norle McMillan Roberts (1919–2015), the day after he graduated from Tuskegee's aviation cadet training.[14]

== Military Career, Tuskegee Airmen]]

In July 1941, Roberts entered aviation cadet training with the Tuskegee Airmen's first class of aviation cadets, Class 42-C-SE.[15] In March 6, 1942, Roberts graduated from aviation cadet training with:

  • Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr., future Tuskegee Airmen Commander and future U.S. four-star general;
  • 2nd Lt. Charles DeBow Jr.(Feb 13, 1918 – April 4, 1968)[16];
  • 2nd Lt. Mac Ross (1912-1944),[17]; and
  • 2nd Lt. Lemuel Custis (1915 – 2005).[18]

During World War II, Roberts was assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron), becoming its first African American commander on June 1, 1942. His squadron served in both North Africa and Italy. He also commanded the entire 332nd Fighter Group before Benjamin O. Davis.[19]

After World World II, Roberts served as the senior Air Corps ROTC instructor at Tuskegee Institute. In 1950, Roberts became the first African American U.S. Air Force officer to command a racially-integrated unit at Langley Air Force Base.[20]

Roberts served during the Korean War, and was stationed in Okinawa. In 1963, Roberts served at Griffiss Air Force Base, managing the U.S. Air Force's ground radar troops. He also served at McClellan Air Force Base. In 1968, Roberts retired from the U.S. Air Force as a full-bird Colonel.[21] [22]

Across his entire career, Roberts flew over 100 missions in the Middle East, Africa and Europe.[23][24]

As a civilian, Roberts worked as a credit officer, training officer, and personal banking officer at Wells Fargo in Sacramento, California. He retired from Wells Fargo in 1982.</ref>[25]

Death

Roberts passed away on March 8, 1984 in Sacramento, California at the age of 65. He was interred at Mount Vernon Memorial Park in Fair Oaks, California.[26]

Legacy

The memorial bridge in Robert's hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia was renamed to honor Robeerts. [27]

Awards

* Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak clusters 
* Two Presidential Citations

References

  1. ^ Caf Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  2. ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  4. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  5. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Charles Henry DeBow Jr."
  6. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Mac Ross."
  7. ^ Custis was the last surviving member of the first Tuskegee Airmen class. A graduate of Howard University in 1939, Custis became Hartford, Connecticut's first African American police officer. Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation. "Lemuel R. Custis - 1915 – 2005."
  8. ^ National Park Service. "Who Are the Tuskegee Airmen?"
  9. ^ Black Then - Discover our History. "COLONEL GEORGE “SPANKY” ROBERTS: FIRST TUSKEGEE AIRMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA." JAE JONES. JUNE 28, 2019 https://blackthen.com/colonel-george-spanky-roberts-first-tuskegee-airman-west-virginia/
  10. ^ Caf Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  11. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  12. ^ The Clio. "The Colonel George S. "Spanky" Roberts, USAF Memorial Bridge." https://www.theclio.com/entry/31134
  13. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  14. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  15. ^ Caf Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  16. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "Charles Henry DeBow Jr."
  17. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Mac Ross."
  18. ^ Custis was the last surviving member of the first Tuskegee Airmen class. A graduate of Howard University in 1939, Custis became Hartford, Connecticut's first African American police officer. Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation. "Lemuel R. Custis - 1915 – 2005."
  19. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  20. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  21. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  22. ^ Black Then - Discover our History. "COLONEL GEORGE “SPANKY” ROBERTS: FIRST TUSKEGEE AIRMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA." JAE JONES. JUNE 28, 2019 https://blackthen.com/colonel-george-spanky-roberts-first-tuskegee-airman-west-virginia/
  23. ^ Black Then - Discover our History. "COLONEL GEORGE “SPANKY” ROBERTS: FIRST TUSKEGEE AIRMAN FROM WEST VIRGINIA." JAE JONES. JUNE 28, 2019 https://blackthen.com/colonel-george-spanky-roberts-first-tuskegee-airman-west-virginia/
  24. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  25. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "George S. 'Spanky' Roberts."
  26. ^ Find a Grave. "COL George Spencer “Spanky” Roberts Sr." https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112303690/george-spencer-roberts
  27. ^ The Clio. "The Colonel George S. "Spanky" Roberts, USAF Memorial Bridge." https://www.theclio.com/entry/31134
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