MAJOR
GENERAL JAMES E. ROBERTS
Retired Nov. 1, 1967, Died Oct. 17, 1978
James
Edwin Roberts was born in Pettus, Texas, in 1909.
He attended elementary and high schools in San Marcos,
Texas, and graduated from Baylor University, Waco,
Texas, with a bachelor of arts degree in 1931.
He
entered the service Oct. 8, 1932, and graduated from
flying school at Kelly Field, Texas, in October 1933.
Upon his graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant
and assigned first to March Field, and later to Hamilton
Field, Calif. In October of 1935, returned to civilian
life and was associated with the W.T. Roberts Company
in Pettus, Texas, before re-entering the service in
July 1937.
Following
a short tactical assignment with the 3d Attack Group
at Barksdale Field, La., in 1937, he was assigned
to Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas, as a flight
instructor. During his four and one-half years at
Randolph, he went to flight commander, and through
the various stages to stage commander.
In
1939, he was commissioned second lieutenant in the
regular Army Air Force, and in 1942, assigned to the
B-26 Marauder School at Del Rio, Texas, as director
of training. Here he was awarded the Legion of Merit.
In
1943, Lieutenant Colonel Roberts was stationed in
the Panama Canal Zone as A-3 operations officer for
the 6th Bomber Command, and in October 1944, was named
commanding officer of the same command. In April 1945,
he returned to the U.S. and attended the Senior Officer's
Course in the school of Applied Tactics at Orlando,
Fla. In June of the same year, Colonel Roberts was
assigned to the 20th Air Force in the Marianas where
he assumed the duties of commanding officer of the
39th Bomb Group, 314th Wing, stationed on Guam. There
he received the Air
Medal for missions against the Japanese mainland.
Returning
from overseas in October 1945, he attended the first
command class of the Command and General Staff School
at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Following completion of
the course in May 1946, he was assigned to Mather
Field, Calif., as assistant commandant. In November
1946, he returned to Randolph Field, Texas, as assistant
commandant.
In
January 1948, he was reassigned to Goodfellow Air
Force Base, Texas, as training group commander, and
in December 1948, assumed command of Goodfellow, where
he remained until Aug. 1, 1950.
The
Colonel assumed command of Tyndall Air Force Base,
Panama City, Fla., in October 1950, and on June 24,
1951, he was assigned as the Air Training Command's
project officer to rebuild Pinecastle Air Force Base.
He assumed command of the base upon its activation
Jan. 10, 1952. On Dec. 15, 1953, he was promoted to
brigadier general (temporary), and on Dec. 30, 1953,
he was assigned as wing commander at Nellis Air Force
Base, Nev. He remained there until January 12, 1956,
when he was appointed inspector general at Air Training
Command headquarters.
The
General became deputy commander of 12th Air Force
in July 1957, with headquarters at Ramstein, Germany.
He was the last officer assigned to the 12th Air Force
when it was activated and moved to Waco, Texas. On
April 15, 1958, he was assigned as deputy chief of
staff, personnel, at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces
in Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany. On May 15, 1960, he
became deputy for personnel, Headquarters Tactical
Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va. On Jan. 30,
1962, he was promoted to major general with date of
rank Aug. 9, 1957.
General
Roberts assumed his present duties as commander, Air
Proving Ground Center, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.,
on July 1, 1962.
(Current
as of November 1964) |