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| Information > Biographies > MAJOR GENERAL EDWIN W. ROBERTSON II |
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MAJOR GENERAL EDWIN W. ROBERTSON II
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Retired June 1, 1981.
Major General Edwin W. Robertson II is chief of the Joint U.S. Military Group and the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Spain.
General Robertson was born in 1925, in Columbia, S.C. He graduated from the Hotchkiss School in Lakesville, Conn., in May 1943. He served in the U.S. Army as a private from September 1943 until June 1944 when he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., as a cadet. He graduated from the academy in June 1947 with a bachelor of science degree and commission as a second lieutenant. He earned a master's degree in political science from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1966 while attending the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
From June 1947 to October 1948, General Robertson attended pilot training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and fighter pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz. In October 1948 he was transferred to the 33rd Fighter Group at Roswell Air Force Base, N.M., and remained with the group when it moved to Otis Air Force Base, Mass., in November 1948.
In June 1950, at the outbreak of the Korean War, General Robertson was assigned to the 7th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group at Misawa Air Base, Japan, and moved with this group to Itazuke Air Base, Japan, in July and to Taegu, South Korea, in September. He served temporary duty as a forward air controller with the 24th Infantry Regiment and earned the Silver Star while directing an attack against enemy forces that helped save a battalion of U.S. infantrymen. In December 1950 he rejoined the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group.
General Robertson was assigned to the 6147th Tactical Control Group, Pyongtaek, South Korea, in February 1951 and served as a forward air controller with the 187th Regimental Combat Team. He jumped with the regiment at Munsanni, Republic of Korea. During the Korean War he flew 218 combat hours in the F-80 Shooting Star.
In June 1951 General Robertson moved to Presque Isle, Maine, as maintenance officer and fighter pilot with the 74th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron of the 23rd Fighter-Interceptor Group. In August 1954 he was assigned to Headquarters Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colo., where he served as chief of the F-89D Tactical Evaluation and Training Section until November 1956.
General Robertson then attended the Royal Air Force Staff College at Bracknell, England. In January 1958 he became tactical adviser to the 6th Fighter Wing of the Spanish air force at Torrejon Air Base, Spain. During this assignment he flew F-86 with the Spanish air force.
In August 1960 General Robertson returned to Headquarters Air Defense Command and become the tactical operations officer, Interceptor Branch, Weapons Division. He served in this post until August 1963 when he was named commander of the 98th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Suffolk County Air Force Base, N.Y.
In August 1965 General Robertson entered the National War College in Washington, D.C. After graduation in August 1966, he was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as chief of the Plans Development and Appraisal Section, Planning Division.
His next assignment, in August 1968, was to the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, as deputy commander for operations. He later became vice commander of the wing. During this assignment General Robertson flew 500 combat hours in the F-100 Super Sabre and was awarded the Legion of Merit and the first oak leaf cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross.
In October 1969 General Robertson became vice commander of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing at Bitburg Air Base, Germany, and the following month he assumed command of the wing. In October 1971 he became assistant to the commander in chief of U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He remained in that post until June 1972 when he became inspector general for the command. In August 1974 he was named vice commander of Sixteenth Air Force at Torrejon Air Base, Spain.
General Robertson became commander of the Chanute Technical Training Center, Chanute Air Force Base, Ill., in July 1976. He assumed his present duties on May 29, 1979.
General Robertson is a command pilot and wears the Parachutist Badge. His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 22 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation emblem, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ribbon and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.
He was promoted to major general April 24, 1974, with date of rank July 1, 1971.
(Current as of October 1979)
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