Robert P. Baldwin
{{short description|American flying ace}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Robert P. Baldwin
|image= Robert P. Baldwin.jpg
|image_size= 200px
|alt= Robert Baldwin on the wing of an F-86 Sabrejet
|caption= Robert Baldwin on the wing of an F-86 Sabrejet
|nickname=
|birth_date= {{Birth date|df=yes|1917|10|19}}
|birth_place= Los Angeles, California
|death_date= {{Death date and age|df=yes|1994|04|07|1917|10|19}}
|death_place= San Marcos, California
|placeofburial= Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California
|allegiance= United States
|branch= United States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
|serviceyears= 1940–1966
|rank= Colonel
|servicenumber=
|unit=
|commands= 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group
|battles= World War II
Korean War
|awards= Silver Star
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Air Medal (5)
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
Robert P. Baldwin (October 19, 1917 – April 7, 1994) spent his career in the Army Air Forces and the United States Air Force. He was a pilot during World War II and the Korean War, becoming a flying ace in Korea, shooting down five enemy aircraft.{{harvnb|Varhola|2000|p=42}}{{harvnb|Gurney|1958|p=248}}
Military career
=World War II=
Robert Baldwin entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps on September 28, 1939, and was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, on June 22, 1940. During the war, he took part in 75 combat missions, flying P-38s and P-40s in Europe from 1943 to 1945. in May 1945 he was a lieutenant colonel, commanding the 71st Fighter Squadron based at March Field, California.{{cite web|title=Robert P. Baldwin|url=http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=717|publisher=Veteran Tributes|accessdate=10 September 2012}}
=Korean War chronology=
In 1948, Col. Robert Baldwin served as a military observer in Palestine. From December 1948 to July 1949, he server as Assistant Deputy for Maintenance and Chief of Flight Operations at Headquarters Oklahoma City Air Material Area at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. From July to December 1949, he attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He then became commander of the 56th Maintenance and Support Group at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan until March 1950. Following that, he served Deputy for Operations of the 56th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, also at Selfridge AFB. In June 1951, he became Staff of Headquarters Air Defense Command at Ent Air Force Base, Colorado until February 1953. At that point, he joined the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing in Korea and was promoted to Commander after 3 missions. He flew a total of 85 combat missions, and had 800 hours on the F-86. He achieved 5 aerial victories plus 3 damaged in the Korean War.
=Cold War chronology=
From September 1953 until June 1955, he was commander of Kisarazu Air Base in Japan. Following that, he served as commander of the 4750th Air Defense Group at Vincent AFB, Arizona. In November 1958, he was stationed at the U.S. Air Force Headquarters in the Pentagon. In June 1962, he served as staff of Headquarters Allied Air Forces Southern Europe. In July 1965, he served his final assignment as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans with Headquarters Air Training Command at Randolph AFB, Texas. He retired from the service in June 1966.
Decorations
File:Colonel Baldwin Uniform Ribbons.jpg
Baldwin was awarded the following decorations for his military service.
style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="4"|275px |
| |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Silver_Star_ribbon.svg |width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak-leaf|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak-leaf|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg |width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=oak-leaf|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=AF_Presidential_Unit_Citation_Ribbon.png|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Outstanding_Unit_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_of_Occupation_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=National_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Korean Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=4|type=oak-leaf|ribbon=Air_Force_Longevity_Service_ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United_Kingdom_Distinguished_Flying_Cross_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=5|type=award-star|ribbon=Cheon-Su_Security_Medal_Ribbon.png|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Presidential_Unit_Citation_(Korea).svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
=Silver Star citation=
60px
|Silver Star Medal Action Date: 22-Jun-53 Service: Air Force Rank: Colonel Company: Commanding Officer Regiment: 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group{{cite web|title=Robert P. Baldwin|url=http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=24968|publisher=Military Times Hall of Valor|accessdate=10 September 2012}} |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{citation|last=Gurney |first=Gene |title=Five Down and Glory: A History of the American Air Ace |location=New York |publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons |year=1958 |id= Arno Press edition|isbn=0-405-03764-3 }}
- {{citation|first=Michael J. |last=Varhola |authorlink=Michael J. Varhola |title=Fire and Ice: The Korean War, 1950–1953 |publisher=Da Capo Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-1-882810-44-4|location=Mason City, IA}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baldwin, Robert P.}}
Category:American Korean War flying aces
Category:Aviators from California
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
Category:United States Air Force officers
Category:United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
Category:Burials at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery