Jay Robbins bio - got any pictures to go with this, Jack?
------------------------------------------
LIEUTENANT GENERAL JAY THORPE ROBBINS
80th Fighter Squadron,
8th Fighter Group
5th Air Force
Theater - PTO
Victories - Air - 22
Aircraft Flown:
P-38H-5-LO Lightning "Jandina" Serial Number 42-668??
P-38J-10-LO Lightning "Jandina II" Serial Number 42-67590
Crew Chief S/Sgt. Devereaux
P-38J-15-LO Lightning "Jandina III" Serial No 42-103988
P-38J-15-LO Lightning "Jandina IV" Serial Number 43-28832
Crew Chief S/Sgt.Mosback.
P-38?? "Jandina V"
Bio
Lt. Gen. Jay T. Robbins - Born in 1919 in Coolidge, Texas.
Graduated Texas A&M University in 1940, 2/LT ROTC
July 1941 flying training as an officer at Corsicana, Randolph and Victoria, Texas.
July 1942 fighter training 55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Pursuit Group, Morris Field, N.C., and Drew Field, Fla.
September 1942 assigned to the 80th FS, 8th FG 5 AF
First Mission, 1/17/43
7/21/43 3 kills - 1 probable
9/4/43 4 kills, 2 probables
10/24/43 - 4 kills
12/26/43 2 kills, 1 probable
January 1944 80 FS Squadron CO after death of Ed Cragg
March - August 44 8 more kills
Promoted Major 5/22/44
September 1944 became deputy commander of the group.
Commander of the 434th Army Air Forces Base Unit at Santa Rosa Field, Calif., from February to November 1945.
Combat Summary
Flew 607 hours 181 combat missions in P-39 P-38 - 22 aerial victories, all of which over Japanese fighter aircraft. Fourth highest scorer in Pacific Theater of Operations. Twice destroyed four enemy fighters during single missions and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for each of these battles.
Postwar
Squadron operations officer with the 412th Fighter Group (later redesignated 1st Fighter Group), at March Field, Ca., the first organization in the Air Force to be equipped with F-80 Jet fighter aircraft.
June 1947 assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
1949 Served in operational posts in Headquarters Twelfth Air Force, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas.
1950 Attended the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala returned to Twelfth Air Force.
August 1950 assigned Assistant Chief, Tactical Air Operations Branch, Headquarters Continental Air Command, Mitchel Air Force Base, N.Y.,
January 1951, joined the operational staff of the newly established Air Defense Command at Ent Air Force Base, Colo.
June 1953 to September 1955, Plans and programs officer of the War Plans Division, Directorate of Plans, at Headquarters U.S. Air Force. Became a member of the Joint Strategic Plans Group of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Represented the Joint Chiefs of Staff on a special continental defense subcommittee of the National Security Council.
July 1957 to August 1961 Deputy commander (later commander) 20th Tactical Fighter Wing in England In 1960 led the U.S. Air Force European Gunnery Champions to the "William Tell" weaponry meet in Nevada, flying F-100 Supersabre aircraft across the Atlantic to participate.
July 1962 he graduated from the National War College, Washington, D.C. Named director of flight safety.
January 1963 Director of aerospace safety at Norton Air Force Base, Calif. (During his tenure as director of aerospace safety, the U.S. Air Force established two consecutive record years in low worldwide aircraft accident rates)
July 1965 Commander of the 313th Air Division
March 1967 Chief of staff, Pacific Air Forces, with headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
July 1968 to February 1970 Commander of the Twelfth Air Force with headquarters at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas.
February 1970 Vice commander, Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va.,
August 1972 Vice commander of Military Airlift Command.
Retired Sep. 1, 1974
Died March 3, 2001.
Decorations and awards
Distinguished Service Cross with oak leaf cluster,
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster,
Silver Star with oak leaf cluster,
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster,
Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters,
Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters,
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
"Jandina III" Survives?
Interesting snippet from Pacific Wrecks website:
Quote:
"Jandina III" lost nose wheel hydraulics after May 7, 1944 mission. Pilot Robbins, was told to crash land at Yamai, near Saidor. At the time of its loss, "Jandina III" had 19 kills. The aircraft was abandoned at Bilau on oil drums until 2002. The 19 kills were cut out and missing from the nose. All that was visible was the name of the crew chief.
Recovered by Australian group known as '75 Squadron' (no association with the RAAF unit). The wreck was reportedly dug up while the group was recovering aircraft scrap from Finchafen. It was identified as the historically valuable "Jandina III" from remains of the nose art and kill markings on the nose. The aircraft was containered at Lae, and shipped to Melbourne, Australia. Soon afterwards, transported by road thru Melbourne, and then containered and shipped to California, along with (possibly) P-38F 42-12652 and three Thunderbolts, and P-47 42-75284, P-47 42-22521, P-47 42-8074.
The current whereabouts of this aircraft are unconfirmed. Reportedly, it was purchased by Paul Allen's Flying Heritage Collection and being restored by Westpac Restoration in Rialto. It is also unclear if this aircraft was legally or illegally exported from PNG.
=================
Rob / Kansan
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
