2Lt. Robert Minns Robertson, Pensacola High Class of 1941 was the son of Herman Sternberg Robertson and Florence May Pilcher. Born in 1924, he and his family lived in Pleasant Grove off Gulf Beach Highway until his graduation from high school. He was working at Sear & Roebuck when he was inducted into the USAAC and assigned to the 437th Bombardment Squadron in North Africa.
On August 22, 1943 his squadron was assigned a bombing mission over Salerno, Italy prior to the American landing on the 9th of September. His formation was attacked by a large group of German fighters upon which the US fighters engaged. However, during the air battle an American fighter pilot suddenly rose sharply from below striking Robert's B-25 bomber from below. It was surmised that the American fighter pilot had been shot and clenched his stick sending his plane upward whereby both aircraft went down. The crash took place about 120 miles from Salerno over the Mediterranean Sea. Two of Robert's gunners survived and became POW’s. His former plane, called “Madame Trouble” and had previously been shot out from under him whereby he had been assigned a new plane for the current mission.
His wife, Bethleen Van Curen Robertson was notified of his death. Although his body was never recovered, there is a memorial to his sacrifice at the American War Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy. His brother SSgt Adrian Herman Robertson survived the war as a member of the USAAC and is buried in Barrancas Cemetery.
Robert Minns Robertson, Pensacola High Class of 1941
2Lt. Robert Minns Robertson, 437th Bombarbment
Squadron, 319th Bombardment Group, North Africa
Pensacola News Journal 9-10-1944
The B-25 Medium Bomber