Robert G. Robinson

He fought enemy aircraft despite his arm’s disabling wounds.

Robert Guy Robinson received the Medal of Honor for aerial combat with the 1st Marine Aviation Force in October 1918. As an observer, he helped defend his aircraft against German fighters during raids in France and Belgium. On 14 October, near Pittham, his aircraft and another became separated from their formation and faced twelve enemy scouts. A bullet severely injured his elbow and his gun jammed. Robinson cleared the weapon with one hand and resumed firing despite his unusable left arm. He continued defending the aircraft until two further wounds caused him to collapse.

Born in Wayne, Michigan, Robinson enlisted in the Marines in May 1917. After surviving his severe combat injuries, he was discharged as a gunnery sergeant in 1919 and commissioned in the Marine Corps Reserve. He retired in May 1923 and received promotion to first lieutenant on the retired list in September 1936. He lived in St. Ignace, Michigan, where he died on 5 October 1974. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

For extraordinary heroism as observer in the 1st Marine Aviation Force at the front in France. In company with planes from Squadron 218, Royal Air Force, conducting an air raid on 8 October 1918, GSgt. Robinson's plane was attacked by nine enemy scouts. In the fight which followed, he shot down one of the enemy planes. In a later air raid over Pittham, Belgium, on 14 October 1918, his plane and one other became separated from their formation on account of motor trouble and were attacked by 12 enemy scouts. Acting with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in the fight which ensued, GSgt. Robinson, after shooting down one of the enemy planes, was struck by a bullet which carried away most of his elbow. At the same time his gun jammed. While his pilot maneuvered for position, he cleared the jam with one hand and returned to the fight. Although his left arm was useless, he fought off the enemy scouts until he collapsed after receiving two more bullet wounds, one in the stomach and one in the thigh.