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P47 Pilots Biographies, Last Name Starting With "R"
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Pilot Name
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Biography Summary
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Robert H. Rice
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....assigned to the European Theatre of operations with the 358th Fighter Group, 366th Fighter Squadron in April 1944, and flew 99
escort and close support missions (mostly
close support) through March 1945. He
destroyed a few locomotives, RR cars, bridges, gun positions, vessels and barges, horse drawn vehicles, trucks, tanks and 4 enemy
aircraft. He was awarded 2 Distinguished
Flying Crosses and the Air Medal with 17 Oak
Leaf Clusters.
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Robert V. Richards
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After Replacement Depot at
Stone, he and three other shave tails started
chasing the 373rd, beginning at Rothchild
Estate in Paris, and on to Braunschweig
before finding them at R-12 in Illesheim.
Just in time to get some flying time in our
Jug, riding time on the 40 and 8, and poker
time on the USS West Point (SS America).
The 373rd was stateside for their 30 day
Recuperation, Recovery, and Rehabilitation
Leave when VJ Day came along, and for Bob,
instead of Sioux Falls, P-47N's, and the
Pacific, it was 12 hours in the Jug at Goldsboro, N.C. and OUT!! So much for about 300 Jug hours. War ain't all hell!
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Vernon B. Ritchey
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Participant in first college Civilian Pilot
Training (CPT) program obtaining private
pilots license in 1939. Commenced military
service as Aviation Cadet in Class 43K but
accelerated and commissioned 2nd Lt. in
Class 43J
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Paul Rizzo
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Major
Rizzo states, "the P47 was a solid, sturdy
airplane, easy to fly and performed good. She
gave a pilot a feeling of security. The P47
proved itself in World War II."
He taught Aviation Mechanics in New
York City serving 30 years. He flew a Grumman Widgeon to remote lakes in the Canadian Bush. At times he and his fishing party were
the first United States Americans some of the
Canadian natives had seen.
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W. H. "Robbie" Roberson
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His first assignment was in P-47's with the
327th Ftr. Gp. Richmond, Va. He was made
an instructor after 19 hours 50 minutes in
the "Jug" and served the next 16 months at
RAAB and Dover, Del. He was re-assigned to
the 324th Ftr. Gp. 314th Ftr. Sqdn. In
France, Jan. 1945 where he joined former
schoolmate "Doc" Morgan and childhood
buddy John V. Jones, flying 50 missions
prior to V.E. day.
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James F. Roberts
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bomber
version of the P51A. Participated in N.
Africa, Sicily, and Italy campaigns flying
dive bombing, strafing, and close support
attacks on tanks, docks, and supply lines as
well as flying cover for Sicily and Italy
invasions. Completed 59 missions. He was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and
Air Medal with six clusters. Commissioned in
the field Sept., 1943.
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Robbie Roberts Jr.
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Memorable Experience: Flying C-47 to Dinjan from Teng-Chung through severe thunderstorm at
11,000'. Only 1 of 4 crew members not to be
knocked unconscious due to storm. Grapefruit size hailstones dented and bent the wing.
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John C. Robertson
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Flying on the deck, usually at
Military Power, over unfamiliar desert terrain, John always got the flight to the action (often, lots of it) and back to the airfield,
being used that day. Flight tactics evolved quickly, as did maintenance, armament and everything else that could be achieved by a
group of men who had laid it all on the line.
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George Rockwell
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My uncle, George Rockwell, was a P-51 pilot in WW II with the 363 recon group 29th TAC of 9th airforce( I think I got that right). he is currently in Connecticut.
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Edward F. Roddy
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He was credited with eight
confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed (airborne) and many more on the ground. Just
prior to the invasion of Luzon, he managed to
get airborne during a red alert at dawn with
one wingman (C. Andress). Although
delayed to provide base defense cover until
the assigned P38s were airborne, they headed
for Clark Field where they caught a row of
new Georges (4-bladed prop) refueling.
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