George S. "Spanky" Roberts (September 24, 1918 – March 8, 1984) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer and fighter pilot with the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later 99th Fighter Squadron) and the former commander of the 332nd Fighter Group, best known as the

Tuskegee Airmen The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of primarily African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) and airmen who fought in World War II. They formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Fighter Group, 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) of th ...

. Roberts was the one the first five African American US military combat fighter pilots in history and was also the first African-American US military pilot from West Virginia. Being among the first five to graduate, they "drew the most sustained attention from the press and the black community as a result." Roberts was also the first African American

U.S. Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its origins to 1 ...

officer to command a racially-integrated unit, achieving this historic milestone at

Langley Air Force Base Langley Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Hampton, Virginia, adjacent to Newport News. It was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the entry of the United States into World War I in April 1 ...

in 1950.

Early life and family

Roberts was born on September 24, 1918, in

London, West Virginia London is an unincorporated community in Kanawha County in the U.S. state of West Virginia, located 25 miles from the state capital of Charleston. London Lock and Dam, operated by US Army Corps of Engineers is located here on Kanawha River. Loc ...

Kanawha County Kanawha County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 180,745, making it West Virginia's most populous county. The county seat is Charleston, which is also the state capital and most po ...

. Raised in

Fairmont, West Virginia Fairmont is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 18,313 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in West Virginia, eighth-most populous city in ...

- Marion County, he was the son of Spencer Roberts and Estella Roberts. In 1934, Roberts graduated from Dunbar School (Fairmont, West Virginia). In 1938, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical arts from the historically black college and university

West Virginia State College West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a public historically black, land-grant university in Institute, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Colored Institute. It is one of the original 19 land-grant colleges a ...

(now

West Virginia State University West Virginia State University (WVSU) is a Public university, public Historically black colleges and universities, historically black, land-grant university in Institute, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1891 as the West Virginia Color ...

). Roberts married Edith Norle McMillan (1919–2015) literally minutes after his graduation from the Tuskegee aviation cadet training program ceremony. Fellow cadet graduate

Mac Ross Mac Ross (June 12, 1912 – July 10, 1944) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot during World War II. A member of the Tuskegee Airmen, he Commander (United States)#Air Force, commanded the 100th Fighter Squadron and served ...

served as Roberts' best man.

Military Career, Tuskegee Airmen

Prior to attending Tuskegee, Roberts obtained his pilot's license in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. In July 1941, Roberts was the first cadet accepted into the U.S. Army Air Corps' aviation cadet training program with the Tuskegee Airmen's first class of aviation cadets, Class 42-C-SE, on March 7, 1942 Roberts graduated from aviation cadet training with Captain

Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. (December 18, 1912 – July 4, 2002) was a United States Air Force (USAF) general and commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen. He was the first African-American brigadier general in the USAF. On December 9, 1998, ...

, future Tuskegee Airmen Commander and future U.S. four-star general; 2nd Lt.

Charles DeBow Charles DeBow (February 13, 1918 – April 4, 1986) was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force and combat fighter pilot and commanding officer of the 332nd Fighter Group's 301st Fighter Squadron, best known as the prodigious, all-African American ...

Jr.(Feb 13, 1918 – April 4, 1968); 2nd Lt.

(1912-1944), and 2nd Lt.

Lemuel R. Custis Lemuel Rodney Custis (June 4, 1915 – February 24, 2005) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer, combat fighter pilot and Squadron Operations Officer with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen.Caf Rise Abo ...

(1915 – 2005). During World War II, Roberts was assigned to the

332nd Fighter Group The 332d Expeditionary Operations Group is a provisional air expeditionary group of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command, currently active. It was inactivated on 8 May 2012 and reactivated 16 November 2014. The group forms part of ...

's 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. After World War II, Roberts served as the senior Air Corps ROTC instructor at

Tuskegee Institute Tuskegee University (Tuskegee or TU; formerly known as the Tuskegee Institute) is a Private university, private, Historically black colleges and universities, historically black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It was f ...

. In 1950, Roberts became the first African American

officer to command a racially-integrated unit at

. 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 Colonel. Across his entire career, Roberts flew over 100 missions in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. 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.

Death

Roberts died on March 8, 1984, in

Sacramento, California Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat, seat of Sacramento County, California, Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento Rive ...

, at the age of 65. He was interred at Mount Vernon Memorial Park in

Fair Oaks, California Fair Oaks is a unincorporated community in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento metropolitan area. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Fair Oaks as a census-designated place ...

Legacy

The memorial bridge in Robert's hometown of

, was renamed to honor Roberts.

Awards

* Air Force

Commendation Medal The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fift ...

with four oak clusters * Two Presidential Citations

References