ROBERT R. WILSON, CDR, USN
Robert Wilson '52
Lucky Bag
From the 1952 Lucky Bag:
Robert Roland Wilson
Dallas, Texas
When Bob decided to do something, it usually got done. Perseverance is a quality hard to find in the average man, but it was one of Bob's characteristics for four long years; it kept those stars shining brightly, and made possible his illustrations found throughout the Log and Trident magazines. Somewhat of a perfectionist, he disliked anything that was not done well. His intelligence, good looks, and genius for self-promotion among the fairer sex kept the ranks of his female followers well filled. Upon graduation, Willy intends to go into Naval aviation as a stepping stone toward future work in aeronautical engineering.
He was also a member of the Brigade staff (1st and 3rd sets), the art club, and a recipient of an “E Award.”
Robert Roland Wilson
Dallas, Texas
When Bob decided to do something, it usually got done. Perseverance is a quality hard to find in the average man, but it was one of Bob's characteristics for four long years; it kept those stars shining brightly, and made possible his illustrations found throughout the Log and Trident magazines. Somewhat of a perfectionist, he disliked anything that was not done well. His intelligence, good looks, and genius for self-promotion among the fairer sex kept the ranks of his female followers well filled. Upon graduation, Willy intends to go into Naval aviation as a stepping stone toward future work in aeronautical engineering.
He was also a member of the Brigade staff (1st and 3rd sets), the art club, and a recipient of an “E Award.”
Loss
Robert was lost on July 10, 1968 when the helicopter he was aboard crashed near Clark Air Force Base, Luzon, Philippines. He was commanding officer of Attack Squadron (VA) 93.
Other Information
From the November 1968 issue of Shipmate:
Cdr. Robert R. Wilson, USN , died 10 July in a helicopter accident while en route from Clark Air Force Base to Manila, Philippines. He had been serving in USS Bon Homme Richard.
Cdr. Wilson, who was born in Detroit, Mich., was Brigade Commander and graduated with honors from the Naval Academy in 1952. A naval aviator, he completed various aviation assignments, then was selected to attend the University of Colorado where he received a Master's degree in nuclear physics, and had almost completed work on a Ph.D. He served on the Staff of Commander in Chief Atlantic, and received a Letter of Commendation from Admiral Moorer for his services.
He completed the Armed Forces Staff College course, then served on Carrier Air Group 12 Staff in San Diego, Calif. His last tour was as commanding officer of Attack Squadron 93. He served in Vietnam for about seven months, leading his squadron on a number of missions, and had been nominated for the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star Medal. He had received orders to attend the Nuclear Power School at Vallejo, Calif., and from there he was to be assigned to USS Enterprise as executive officer; the accident occurred two days before his relief of his squadron.
Surviving are his widow, Marlene Hester, of 1529 Pinar Drive, Orlando, Fl. 32807; four sons, Robert Thomas, Earl Roland, Mark Daughton and Edmond Denis, and a daughter Teresa Anne. Also his mother, Mrs. Regina Helen Davis of 5474 Montecito Ave., Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404.
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Robert enlisted in the Navy in April 1945. He was attending the University of California when called into active military service for the second time. He was sent to the Naval Air Station in Dallas where he served as an aviation structural mechanic third class in 1947.
He received a Secretary of the Navy competitive appointment to the Naval Academy in June 1948.
In April 1952, Robert greeted the West Point cadets visiting the Naval Academy on its annual exchange visit.
On May 25, 1952, Robert shook hands with President Harry S. Truman. The event was the President's visit to watch the Navy-Army baseball game at Annapolis. Per The Baltimore Sun that day: The President “reviewed a dress parade of the brigade's 24 companies. The sky was cloudy but there were bright colors and the sound of 3,600 marching men.
“The first midshipmen's drum and bugle corps filed by. A little later the Naval Academy Band played “the Star-Spangled Banner” and a 21-gun salute boomed not far off.
“Rows of white trousered midshipmen marched down the field behind yellow company flags. The band played “Anchors Aweigh” and soon Robert R. Wilson, the brigade commander, shook hands with Mr. Truman as the band struck up “Dixie.”
At lunch, Robert sat to the right of President Truman. The President granted amnesty for any unserved punishments to a rousing cheer from the midshipmen. He also told how he was nominated to the Academy 50 years ago but failed the physical because of his “flat eyeballs.”
At graduation, Robert received the Class of 1897 pistol and cup, the memorial award of the class of 1879, and the superintendent's commendation for leadership within the brigade.
From an Associated Press report in February 1968:
A Santa Rosa pilot led an attack Thursday on Viet Cong troop concentration just south of the demilitarized zone. . . the bombing raid on the enemy troops was led by Cmdr. Robert R. Wilson, 40, of Santa Rosa.
“Our Marine spotter told us there were enemy troops down there,” Wilson said. “He guided us in and we dropped our bombs through the clouds. The cloud cover was too dense to make any damage assessment.”
Wilson's attack was near the city of Khe Sanh.
Per a UPI story from Saigon, May 20, 1968:
Cmdr. Robert R. Wilson, 40, of Santa Rosa, Calif., led a Navy strike against a bridge 20 miles north of Vinh and said “it looked like we got a 500-pound bomb right on the center span.”
Per an AP story from Saigon, June 17, 1968:
Cmdr. Robert R. Wilson . . . led one of a number of successful attacks against Viet Cong targets by U.S. Navy pilots during the weekend.
Wilson, flight leader of one group, said some barges pulled up on a bank of a river west of Vinh Son were attacked.
“We dopped our 500-pound bombs on the group and when I looked back, one of them was completely destroyed. There were parts of the boat all over the area.”
Robert was killed a month later enroute to join his wife in Manila. He had completed 100 missions over North Vietnam and was returning to the U.S. for reassignment.
Robert's mother was Regina Helen (Nadeau.) Her two children were born during an earlier marriage. Robert's stepfather was Benjamin Franklin Wilson, a Marine sergeant, whom she married on August 31, 1940, in Steuben, Indiana. Benjamin served in the Marines until honorably discharged on July 20, 1941. Benjamin's father, also named Benjamin, was an actor and movie producer who was first employed under Thomas Edison.
Robert's family then lived in Detroit, and his stepfather began to work with Bendix Aviation in Wayne, Michigan. By 1950, the family moved to the Duncanville, Texas, area. Robert's sister Frances was an aviation stenographer, and she married Waldemar von Schoeler. They later divorced.
In December 1951, Robert's parents moved to Oahu. His mother later married Franklyn Kenneth Davis. His stepfather Benjamin died on April 30, 1972.
He is buried in Florida.
Awards
Robert was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (approved 8/26/1968 by CINCPACFLT) for Meritorious action on June 1, 1968. Unable to find the citation for the Bronze Star referenced on his headstone.
Photographs
From a squadron photograph, circa 1968.
From The Evening Sun on March 21, 1952
From The World on July 17, 1968
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