WWII Veteran Earl Robinsheaux "P38 Pilot" Discusses the Pacific Theatre
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- Опубліковано 5 лип 2015
- 1st. Lt. Earl Robinsheaux with the US Army Air Corps discusses being a P38 pilot in the Pacific Theatre in this Vtv15 studio interview.
This video originally aired on Vtv15 in May, 2011.
Directed by O.C. Garza
I don't usually spend an hour listening to a UA-cam video....but listening to Earl Robinsheaux as a P-38 pilot during WW 2 was an honor. I salute you, sir.
Yes agree. He is the definition of a true patriot! Puts 45 and his so called “ patriots” to shame!
❤
This video was like a great book you just couldn't put down until you went from beginning to end and refreshed some of the highlights. I was born in May 41 and still remember the electric atmosphere surrounding the sight of the troops returning to the home many thought they would never see as many didnt.
I'm 67. My Dad was a B17 Bombardier who flew 35 missions all of which were over Nazi Germany..
I'm listening to this amazing Americans story with tears running down my face.. MAGA MY ASS!!!!
@@billsalgat8047Unnecessary comment.
Earl Robisheaux is his name. Died May 14, 2017. We thank you, sir !!!
Amazing fellow
God Bless You Mr Robisheaux ,may your soul rest in peace ! America loves you.
I really liked the way he explained how the airplanes actually worked and the differences between single and double engine fighters.
Ahhhhhhhh what a bummer he was tough as nails like the rest of them. So strange with 64 Missions and all the training in Air Craft repair and flying plus his time in the cockpit he never flew again I wonder why?
Lt Robisheaux thank you for your outstanding service! Sgt Louis Guidry from down the bayou, Vietnam vet. Lt, i was scared everyday i was there humping a m60 machine gun. Lt, prayers for your family and my you Rest In Peace. JOB WELL DONE, SIR!!!
Earl Edward Robisheaux Sr., 93, died May 14, 2017, with family by his side in Victoria, Tx. Earl was born February 24, 1924 in Orange Field, Tx to Willard Robisheaux and Loretta Delaune. He bravely protected our country during World War II and entered the Air Force at the age of 18. Earl earned his wings and commission from Aloe Field in Victoria, Texas. Flying the P-38 Lightning with the 339th Fighter Squadron of the 13th Air Force, he saw combat in New Guinea, the South Pacific and the Southern Philippines.
Rest in Heaven Sir. Thank you for doing your part to save the world.
To bad yungsters these days have no respect for those who put their life on the line for our freedoms but literally for our survival.
Thank you for adding this!
End of an era in many ways.
@@user-zg8xj8fe6eThere's a whole lot of things about people today that's just too bad. They don't build them like this gentleman anymore.
What a great man who had a wonderful life. My dad was a P-38 pilot in the 49th FG, 8th FS, and I love hearing these stories. RIP Earl.
My dad flew P-51s & P-38s in the 433rd Sq.(never knew what FG)
Our greatest generation IMO.
Fascinating!
My father flew a P-38 photo version (the F-5) off of Morotai, which Earl talks about at around the 20-minute mark. Dad was probably on the island when Earl's group landed, having arrived there in November of '44.
56 combat missions later, the war was over for my dad and he and the other boys started coming home.... in waves. My Dad got back to the States and was discharged on Christmas Day, 1945. He wouldn't turn 21 for another month. He later went back into the Air Force as a pilot and weapons officer, retiring in 1972.
Heroes all, these boys.
Great story. My dad was Navy PBY crew Chief Petty Officer. He joined summer before Pearl Harbor. He is dearly missed. His last words were to me "Son what you can do for me is Enjoy your life." God bless all of you men and families of WW2. My Neighbor is 99 and was a B 25 Gunner radioman in Pacific. Wonderful person. Great stories.
God bless America. Fuck the assjoled that run it
Assholes that run
My grandfather flew the p38 in ww2 in the pacific. He was in the air force at Kelly. He had some interesting stories. Crash landed in the Phillipines out of fuel. They had some pics of the natives in grass skirts that took care of them until he was picked up. He buzzed the courthouse in Comanche, TX to let family know he was home to go pick him up in Brownwood. Someone turned him in and he was met by the MPs instead. They didn't detain him. His name was Reginald. His wing man didn't make it back hit by a zero. Years ago, I was at an airshow, and Lefty Garder flew over with his white P38 in knife edge and mentioned it was in honor of my grandfather. My grandmother said she pulled shrapnel from him until the day he died. He never flew again upon returning home, and didnt talk much about it. We think he blamed himself for the loss of his wingman.
Wow that's a story. These Heroes didn't need to brag. God had their back. They knew that whether they said so or not. Slow salute to Reginald.
👍🇺🇸🙏
This fine fellow Earl was a Texas pilot who helped America win the Pacific War against the fearsome Japanese. At the end of the war, when he got injured flying, he was discharged and had to go looking for a civilian job because he was newly married. He eventually got into sales. His homespun style -- which we listened to on this video for one hour -- probably sold a lot of goods and kept his family fed. His WW2 story here was humble, genuine, purely American.
Absolutely!
I had a friend here in Texas, from Brownwood Texas. He was a P-38 pilot and flew some with Dick Bong. The gentleman's last name was Dirtsche. A awesome guy.
Whoever thought to have this remarkable guy at age 84 be recorded telling his story with such clarity, THANK YOU! My father was a bomber pilot in Europe who went through the same early training as Mr. Robinsheaux. He was the equivalent of first officer or captain of his B-24 bomber and was the same age as Mr. Robinsheaux. Unfotunately, at the time of this recording my father was in assisted living with Alzheimer's disease and couldn't tell us much of anything. He would have flashbacks of fright in his dementia as he would feel like he was back in that cockpit being strafed by German fighter pilots. He, like so many other war veterans, never spoke of the war. He had a long career as an airline pilot.
Amazing how good the memory of these vets is so many years later.
✅
There is a company, WestPac at the airport in Colorado Springs, Co. that restores vintage aircraft. I visited their facility a few years back and saw a P-38 that had crashed in the jungle of New Guinea that was being restored. It looked really a mess and obvious the restoration would take a while. A WWII veteran pilot in Colorado Springs, got wind of the restoration and since he had flown a P-38 during WWII, had his daughter take him out to see the aircraft. He was a wing commander in Australia when they got in some new P-38s and he assigned one to himself. He flew it on a few missions and then turned it over to another pilot and it was shot down over New Guinea. The vet and his daughter took down serial numbers from the plane and after some research discovered that this was the same plane her now 100 year old father had flown.
On October 17, 2016, 101 year old Frank Royal witnessed the first flight of the beautifully restored P-38 he flew over New Guinea during WWII. In November of that year, he also watched from a chase plane as his P-38 flew over Colorado Springs accompanied by a restored WWII B-25 bomber. I was lucky enough to see that incident as they flew over my house. Frank passed away one month later, making his last flight to see his wife in heaven as he would say.
I knew Frank and spoke to him several times about this.
WH - Colorado Springs, CO.
Thank you for sharing a heart felt memory
What could I say ? . . . HAND SALUTE, READY FRONT ! 🇺🇸
Remember Colorado Springs very memorably. In 1984, I ran the accent of the Pikes Peak Marathon. Started in Manitou Springs . . . hit the Barr Trail. Upon its' completion, at 14.1 miles . . . completed the accent portion, of the race ! Time - 3 hours, 12 minutes. Same time as my one completion of the Boston Marathon - however Boston, was 26.2 miles. Yes . . . up at altitude, much less oxygen ! 😬🇺🇸
Holy crap very interesting what are the chances of that ? Wow
Great story Wonder what he would think of our new dem party woke etc?
Wow, I’m proud of this bloke and I’m an Australian! These men are true heroes not the over paid sports stars that are held up on a pedestal.
I’m so glad that he got to have a successful life. Cheers, Stuart 🇦🇺
Amen, Bradda! 👍🇺🇸
P-38’s were the best planes of WWII. No other plane could fill as many roles. Mr. Robinsheaux is such a masterful storyteller and a true American hero.
I love these veterans’ interviews. They give a perspective of somebody who lived through the war.
VICTORIA - Earl Edward Robisheaux Sr., 93, died May 14, 2017, with family by his side in Victoria, Tx.
Earl was born February 24, 1924 in Orange Field, Tx to Willard Robisheaux and Loretta Delaune. He bravely protected our country during World War II and entered the Air Force at the age of 18. Earl earned his wings and commission from Aloe Field in Victoria, Texas. Flying the P-38 Lightning with the 339th Fighter Squadron of the 13th Air Force, he saw combat in New Guinea, the South Pacific and the Southern Philippines.
After leaving the Air Force, Earl returned home to begin a career in sales and was the owner of Corpus Fire & Safety for 56 years. After retiring he moved to Goliad and eventually Victoria, TX. For over 50 years, he was a Master Mason, Shriner and member of the P-38 National Association.
I'm totally impressed with this veteran's memory. He was sharp as a young man and he still is.
Same comment on every one these, your a bot
He was about as sharp as a young man, yet is not a young man anymore.
So that makes him a rare older gentleman. He tells a helluva story.
My Dad was with the Army Corps of Engineers that put in the runways you boys flew from and he maintained P-38's. Looking at the maps I can see that Dad was on nearly every one of those islands and missed very few of the battles. He very rarely spoke of his time in the Pacific.....I think that mainly he wanted to forget the war. After Dad passed we found his Purple Heart in his sock drawer, carefully wrapped up with his certificate from the War Department. I think that never again will we see a generation of men like these WWII soldiers.
No more like these men. Now they don't even know if they're men!
What a great man it is because
Of men like this that we owe our freedom
Brave & principaled men like this from my dads 'greatest generation' knew what dangers damn fascists posed and were proud to deal with them.
May GOD bless your Father!!
Fine, worthy story teller. Humble. No beer stories. Learned wisdom at a young age. Serious about fighting but not hateful. Honest about his recall. Truly part of The Grestest Generation.
I am not a religious person, but a loud AMEN.
The "Greatest Generation" is an overblown concept. Tom Brokaw made it up so he could kiss ass and write a book.
When the nation has been in jeopardy, EVERY generation of Americans who have been asked...have answered.
That's why it's America.
@@mitchellhawkes22 you seem fun...
Greatest generation is exactly correct. That generation went from horses to the moon. The double-overhead-cam 4-valve-per-cyclinder turbocharged engines we have today they had in their airplanes. They designed and built aircraft whose speed records have not been equaled today. They invented the computer, solid state electronics, artificial intelligence, radar, sonar, microwaves, air travel, supersonic airplanes, self-sealing tanks, turbine engines, nuclear power, and the deepest diving submarines and submersibles. Most of the metal alloys we have today were invented and used then. The bloviators of today demean their courage, character, hard work, and accomplishments, in order to take credit for their accomplishments, to acquire undeserved significance, while possessing none of the traits required to make that possible. I am a retired military pilot who had the opportunity to fly with a few of the stragglers from WW II. They were smart, plain as an old shoe, and I learned more from them, would rather be around them, than my often arrogant contemporaries. Two were B17 pilots who flew on some of the same missions to Germany. One had a cottage on a lake near a base and invited me to stay with them one weekend. I mostly listened to talk about some of those missions and learn from each other about what happened to who. I was also dual rated. One night I was flying a chaplain in a rotary wing to another base. I learned that he had flow P-51s in Europe during WW II. For those who know anything about rotary wing know that without autopilot, they require constant attention and a rapid crosscheck. I let him fly, believing he would not do well. After all these years he could freeze the needles in an aircraft type that was more unstable and sensitive than anything he could have flown. The Gulf War was the last war I was given an assignment for but was not deployed in time. I was out prior to the Iraq War. I learned a few things. The people you were with during the hardest times of your life are the people you never stop caring about, even though with them a short time. I remember my mom not understanding why my dad was so severely affected when he lost a friend from suicide who had been a friend during the Battle of the Bulge. My ear is just naturally to the ground for anything good or bad in the life of my friends and we never stop corresponding. It was the best brat camp possible and imparted a maturity and confidence that I would have never acquired otherwise. On the other hand I don't remember those I went to school with for 13 years very well, and I couldn't tell you who was best man in my wedding without looking. The current and my generation in no way measure up to theirs, but have benefited greatly.
No beer stories?
This old gentleman tells a wonderful, detailed story. Highly recommended.
Sharp mind
I like the way this guy tells his story, like forest Gump (not meant talking shit) blunt to the point and "that's all there was to it". It's just here's the facts
@@aaravarcher2391 go away J.O.!
Yeh...from beginning to end.
Yoma mata
What an amazing adventure for a young man right out of high school. To find himself flying a P38 against Japan. Just remarkable.
The man had a remarkable memory, he was a warrior, thank God for men like him!
When the U.S. sprouted heroes like dandelions in spring.
So true!
Well put!
And remeber, pilots and infantry made up 2% of the total force. We only ever hear about these two types in uniform. Where are the other stories from the 98%?
And now.
Who in the hell were the 49 that disliked this video?
His memory is stunning. Truly a born pilot.
This man gives an incredible speech--much more impressive than an interview. His mind seems to be as sharp as a tack!
Not smoking or doing alcohol has that affect in the later years of life.
Maybe they cut the questions out?
It's the most unfortunate thing in the world when you have someone like this, and they've had a stroke or are at the beginning of dimentia, they're trying to impart important things, but you just can't understand them, he's talking like it happened yesterday.
I met a fellow who was a P-38 engine mechanic during the war. When I asked him how he liked the plane he just said "Twice the work."
The P38 is one of the most beautiful planes ever built.
Yes, she is a fine plane.
@@davidturner2187 Indeed it is.
Good boy Ringo. Great comment. It also solved the problem of shooting and propelers better than any other plane.
Design was way ahead of its time.
The P38 has always been my favorite WWII fighter. It's a shame that most of them were never brought back to the USA, but were sold or given away where they were at the end of the war. I believe there were more versions of the P38 than of any other U.S. fighter/interceptor at that time. It was/is a beautiful aircraft.
The free world owes you a depth of gratitude that can never be repaid. Rest in peace.
An amazing man with such an inspirational story. So glad someone decided to record this for history's sake.
You're right on that luckily in the last fifteen or so years people have been smart enough to get these veterans together and record their stories not many of them left my grandfather and great-uncle we're Naval aviators luckily our family got to hear their stories may they both rest in peace with all their buddies
Quite the story. He had great recall, too! My dad’s first cousin flew a P-38, but was shot down over Bremen, Germany, his body was never found. He was also training Stateside, but volunteered to fight instead. This man, my cousin, my dad, all of these then young men and women of that era were made of different stuff.
@@PacWestFish Thanks, I’ve always been a klutz with the family tree nomenclature! The saddest thing is that cousin Milton was an only child and according to everyone that knew him, a lovable, humorous and generous soul. He could have stayed in the states as a trainer, but he wanted to fight. He was about ten years older than Pop and called my dad “Little Buddy.” Pop still has some letters. He is the only one left of that generation and will be 94 this year. When he was stationed in Germany in the Occupation Army (45-47), he spent a considerable amount of time trying to find any information he could about Cousin Milton, but nothing ever turned up. His P-38 is believed to have been lost over the North Sea, after tangling with German fighters over Bremen. There was a display about him here in Richmond, VA at the Air Museum just outside of the airport. That museum is gone now and all of the display items about Major Milton Joel are in the possession of one of my more distant cousins, related to him, with the same last name.
God rest his brave soul.
This guy was still sharper than many people half his age. What a hero. What a life.
What was your dad's first cousin's name?
“...made of different stuff”. Won’t deny that, but it was also a vastly different time and war (e.g., US was attacked, world dominance at stake)
Mr. Robinsheaux is very impressive. I am so glad that he followed his parents' direction. Thank you for your service!
Its Robisheaux. Mistake in the title.
RIP...what a story teller. Thank you for your service.
When i was in my teens I worked at a drive-in theater, the owner had been a P38 pilot in the war and remained in the reserves flying jets. He retired as a Lt. Col. He talked me into joining the Air Force where I became an Air Traffic Controller and then joined the FAA. I owed him a lot for steering me in the right direction.
Fantastic recall.
I could listen to this old war hero for hours. His recall is incredible overshowed only by his humility. His generation was amazing in their eagerness to join the fight. I was wondering myself as other commenters did why he never seemed interested in flying after the war. I've heard that it was all about the mission and once it was over, they moved on with their lives. I had a college room mate that flew F4's in Vietnam off a carrier and he became a flight instructor in San Diego after the war.
I'm hooked! There are lots on UA-cam!
Thoroughly enjoyed
Listening l😮learning how he became a P38
Pilot.
Thank you Sir for serving your country🇱🇷
Your sharing held me memorized.
God Bless you✝️🙏🙏
My grandpa flew SBD Dauntless dive bombers during the war. As a kid, I asked him how come he never flew after the war. He said he never wanted to climb in a cockpit again. He was happier climbing into the cab of a tractor I guess.
As a retired Military I truly enjoyed Lt. Robinsheaux's discussion of his experiences as a fighter pilot during WWII. Amazing recall of his training and career.
Some people have a way of telling a story that makes it so interesting. This gentleman has that. He doesn't heap praise on himself, just tells the story. If he didn't participate in some operation, he says so. Very refreshing.
My father flew a bomber in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. We owe our country and our wonderful way of life to heroes like Earl. Thank you Earl Robinsheaux for your service to our country! And thank you TV15 in Victoria for bring this man's brave adventure to us.
I was a US Navy pilot during Viet Nam. I trained in the southwest part of Texas. The courage of men like Earl Robinsheaux and the sacrifices they made should be remembered. Thanks to Vtv15 for helping us to understand what they accomplished.
Thank you for your service Rob !!
My grandpa flew p38 lightning photo recon in the pacific. He's passed as of 2 years ago. Amazing stories and career.
My highest respect for him. My father served in WW2 from 42-46 Army Airforce
Wow. My father served on Middleburg Island. Other tan my father's account, I had never heard of anyone who knew of Middleburg. My father George Thomas Reed was in Army Air Corps and was a tower operator. He was a morse code operator and told me many stories of P38s, and other types of aircraft he was in the tower helping. He told me one time the wind sock was across the runway, and P40s came in to land on the short runway, and he warned them but they must have been on the wrong channel and cartwheeled upon landing. Nobody killed. When Google Earth was available, Middleburg Island was one of the first places he wnated to see. He identified the 1.1 miles runway, 3/4 of it is still visiable. He had a bowl of shells he had collected next to us. Now I knew where he had collected those. It was on the north east side of the island. Thank you for this info!
Such an honorable man. First, he honors his parents wishes, then he honors his country with his service. RIP
I’m happy I was able to watch this. Thank you for recording his story for us and future generations to enjoy
A truly remarkable man. So generous to have shared his experiences with us all.
RIP. Job well done.
What an exceptional memory. I hope he is still with us.
This is the 3rd time I have watched this and every time I say . What a guy , God bless Texas
Why are there always trolls who give thumbs down to such incredible interviews? I just don't understand some people
99% of the time no one ever notices the downvotes unless someone has to post "WHO ON EARTH ARE THE TROLLS WHO DON'T LIKE THIS VIDEO".
@@overlandbobcat1712 bunch of commie egg sucking light in their loafers ratchet jawed heifers
They are worthless selfish unappreciative people
That's the only power they can dredge up from their ugly little minds
They are punks who wouldn't know courage or patriotism if it bit them on the butt. God bless the greatest generation.
As an Aussie, Sir I salut you and do thank you.
You sir have the gift of story telling, I do hope this is played in all schools by the department of education as we need the younger generation to appreciate the sacrifices that so many made for your country.
Unfortunately, they have a much more important agenda with teaching gender reassignment and infecting young persons minds. Far too few people know or even care abt these old and tired stories.
I had the chance to chat with Rex Barber years ago..his version of the ambush and attack was as this gentlemans...
what a great video ... sharp as a tack story telling
A very impressive speaker. Never scared: Wow. I believe it. I can imagine this guy eating a ham sandwich on a strafing run. A unique personality that believed in his country and did what was asked of him. I thank him.
As a very young pilot who believe they are 10ft tall and in bullet proof may explain his lack of fear? Failure of imagination lol.?
From a mate in Qld Australia . We in Aus remember US serviceman sacrifice in the SW Pacific . Many in this world have the memory capacity of a cockroach .
@@ianando9459 He even mentioned fear and other pilots. It was common and talked about often. It had nothing to do with being young.
Imagine throwing up 5 straight times and going and cleaning up the mess and almost being washed out but persevering to become a pilot and surviving the war! Then reminiscing such a incredible story
The memories this man is recounting here are vivid and clear, and it seems like they happened a few weeks before this video. Massive respect for his bravery and determination to fly 64 missions (!) in the Pacific. Earl Robinsheaux and men like him - my father being one - brought that war to it's end, then returned to build the greatest nation in human history. Honor to these, and all veterans for their selfless courage. To the self-serving cowards who in 2021 seek to destroy it from within, I look forward to your defeat.
Amen to that!!
Same here. My Dad spent almost five years serving this great country in WWII in the Army and Mom served in the Navy. I despise these Socialists today and will do all I can to destroy them. In November 2022, there will be an incredible repudiation event. Inflation will be so painful for the Democrats and the other idiots that support Socialism they will forget all about “free” money.
wait a minute, is this about Earl Robinsheaux or about you and your dad? Seems like you're trying to make it about you and your dad.
AMEN
@@19tractor52 what is wrong with you two idiots? "it seems like it happened a few weeks before the video"?
We are so incredibly lucky to have these men around to tell their stories and share their experiences. Even more so to have the medium to easily share them with the world and keep them online forever.
Truly, the greatest generation.
"I don't know why, but I was always the Colonel's wingman." You were his wingman because you were a damned good pilot. Typical self-effacing / humble guy. The mark of greatness.
My thoughts exactly! Well put and, no doubt, accurate!
Outstanding storytelling from this fine gentleman. I lived in Corpus Christi for many years & wished I had met this man so I could shake his hand & thank him for serving his country. So glad I happened upon this video. Thank you for your service & rest in peace.🇺🇲
If only America had more people like Earl.....
There are people like him everywhere but most of them never had the chance to fly a p38 and are just doing things like lithography.
This is one of the best interviews I have seen. Not just big mission oriented. Great video.
Lt. Robinsheaux, thanks for your service.
Thank you for your appearance here, Lieutenant Robinsheaux. God bless you. My father was working at a defense plant in California in 1941, and was deferred from the draft. He quit his job, gave up the deferment, and enlisted, and served during WWII in the United States Army. He spent most of his time on a Mine Planter (go look it up) and after the War served the balance of his enlistment in the Infantry. After all these years, I never found out what he did in California. Every veteran has a story and thank you, Lieutenant, for yours.
I did look it up, and I learned something new today. Thanks
Wow, what a tale! Did anyone notice how he pretty much never described his own accomplishments, but only those of his buddies?
My Grandpa was in the Navy on Attu (or Kiska) from '43-'45. My Dad as a 17-year-old served on a troopship '44-'45 in the N. Atlantic. Neither saw any action. My Dad post-war went to college & then did a tour as a recon platoon Lt. in Germany. Post-Army, he went on to own and fly a Cessna Skymaster for 3,000+ hours.
But my Uncle Brud was a Serjeant in the 28th Pennsylvania Infantry Division--which saw 90% casualties at Aachen and then at the Bulge (16,762 battle casualties). He and the survivors of his squad were trapped behind German lines for 2 weeks in the Schnee Eiffel before the Germans got pushed back. Took him decades after the war to (mostly) shed his PTSD. My cousin and I tried mostly in vain to get him to tell us stories. But boy did he ever hate Germans for the rest of his life. He was my hero.
Excellent video interview. My father in law was Lt. Col. Charles Shallenberger, P-38 fighter pilot in the pacific in the Vampire squadron. He was proof that his generation was the greatest. I enjoyed this video very much. I wanted to do the same with my father in law but he passed before we ever got around to making the video. I'll never forgive myself for that.
GOD Bless Your Father!! May GOD Bless you too!!
Fantastic interview. Thank you for taking the time to film this!
As a warbird enthusiast, I found this gentleman's stories fascinating. I could listen for hours.
Greatest interview I’ve heard. A real hero of WW2
What an outstanding account! Strange that he did not continue flying after leaving the air force, however to you and all who gave their all during those times, thankyou very much for your service. Most appreciated from Perth, Western Australia...
Fascinating interview. Love my fellow Texan’s pronunciation of Yamamoto as Yomomata. 😊
I love how the flight lead said it clear as day... "we are low on gas and stay out of are way!"
This man had great recall. Gotta Repect him & thank you for you Service 🙏
true .. like a debriefing
I just listened to this and it gave me chills, because it sounded just like the stories my Dad used to tell me. Dad was in the 17th Airborne, 194th Glider Infantry Regiment. God bless you, Mr. Robisheaux. Thank you for keeping our country safe.
Hadn't really planned to watch this entire interview, but here I am at the end. Fantastic storyteller.
Thank you for your service and your bravery, Earl. You make us all proud, and we love our freedom. Also thank you for your efforts in telling your story. We love you.
One of my uncles flew P-47 Thundrbolts and -40 Warhawks in the Pacific in the late years of the war, and he died ferrying a P-38 Lightning from Guam to Iwo JIma in the last days of the war, when the convoy lost radio contact in a storm. This was probably about he time of the Nagasaki bomb. My other uncle flew 33 bombing missions over Germany in B-17s and B-24s. My father came in to the service during the last few months of the war, he and one other fellow parked most of the returning aircraft at the Davis-Monthan "Boneyard" airfield in Tucson, AZ.
I salute you, sir, and them, and all the brave men and women who fought and served, and those helped in the home front. I wish today's generation had your qualities.
My 8th grade teacher was a medic on Guadalcanal and Bougainville. He told us our shop teacher, Mr. Stokes, was on 4 amphibious landings and HE was a hero (2 silver stars). These were ordinary men who becomes school teachers but even then, were giants to me. I asked Mr. Stokes about it and he just smiled and said Mr. Cookus was the hero because he could shoot back, Mr Cookus was too busy saving people to shoot. How lucky I am to have known them.
I can’t even express how remarkable this video and this man and his story are.
"The first six times I got sick." But he kept showing up. That's what got him in the pilot game.
My Dad served with him in the 339th. Dad was in radio maintenance.
I was privileged to know my wife's uncle, Richard Gilbert, who flew 38s in Europe. It is a joy to hear another 38 pilot tell his story.
What a wonderful blessing it is to have such fine and soft-spoken MEN in our world. They went forth and SAVED THE WORLD, and then they came home and had little to say about their adventures. My Dad was among them and I am forever his proud son.
My late neighbor was a Silver Star P-38 pilot, mentioned it once. A great man.
Mr. Robinsheaux's memory is remarkable. Many thanks for his story.
All business we were then.fought hard and we had to. We owe them men and woman our lives.
CANT GET ENOUGH OF WWII HEROES RIP U GREAT PEOPLE AMEN 🙏
I enjoyed every minute of his story. Thank you and God bless you.
This Gentleman, must of flown with a Friend of mine, who has since passed - George Chandler. As George was also with the 339th Fighter Squadron. I met Mr. Chandler, from a "Air Classics" article He wrote, & His organization - 'the Second Yamamoto Mission'. George was a real Gentleman and all around Good Person. I miss Him.
It was amazing how quickly they trained some great fighter pilots. God bless all who are serving and those who have served. Thank you.
My dad flew a converted hospital B-17 from Oakland> Pearl> Guam with return with wounded soldiers in the Pacific Theatre. My mother's brother flew with Shenalt and is buried in Shandong Province China. My dad said he liked PBY's best.
Claire Chennault
this man is sharp as a tack .... RESPECT!!!
I really appreciated your story! Thank you so much!
My great uncle also flew the P-38 in the Pacific theater. Claud McLemore. Bless you for your service!
What a great episode! How valuable to have that in-depth interview.
The P-38 was in it’s best element in the Pacific. There was no need for a heater in the cockpit. In Europe, pilots complained about being cold because there was no effective way to get the heat from the engines to the cockpit because of the twin boom configuration of the P-38.
The range of the P-38 was problematic when the US first entered WWII. It took a civilian to teach the Army pilots how to get the most range out of the P-38.
This civilian told the pilots and ground personnel that they need to run the engines on the P-38 as lean as possible. His recommendations were much leaner than the Army or Lockheed had ever tried.
Many crew chiefs in the Pacific were sure that the civilian’s recommendations would burn up the engines on missions. However, the civilian had a lot of experience in long distance flight. His engine procedures became gospel.
After several P-38s returned to base with half full gas tanks, the military soon realized that the civilian knew what he was talking about.
The civilian flew 50 missions in the P-38 and was credited with one “kill” of a Japanese plane.
When the story of this civilian made the news, General Douglas MacArthur ordered the the civilian, Charles Lindbergh be flown to Australia as quickly as possible.
What a story, Mr Robinsheaux lived a charmed life and lived to tell us his story, what a great man, R.I.P. Robinsheaux, thank you.
My dad Billy Bishop was a photo recon P-38 piolet in WW2. He took pictures before and after battles. And was stationed off an air strip on Beack Island. Close to New Guinea.
Thank you for your service. My family is "free" because of you
Genuine hero! This man is a significant part of history. Thank you for your service!
What a Hero ! Thank you for your service. God bless you.
One of the most interesting hours I have had in a long long time. Thank you so much for everything, the producers the uploading and of course Lt Robinsheaux for his amazing story, he is so well spoken, organized in thought and what memory for detail. Exceptional man you can tell. God Bless him. Thanks again from Alberta Canada
My father, one of 12 children in a southern mill town, joined the Marines at the age of 15 (saying he was 16) in early 1942. He was not attending high school anyway (it wasn't required in 1942, and the family needed all the income it could get, his mother had died a decade earlier). He would tell people he enlisted as much for the opportunity to regularly eat than for patriotic reasons. He stayed in the military 31 years. Six of his eight brothers also enlisted during the war, and a seventh in the Korean conflict, but he was the only Marine. None of the others made the military a career. My father ultimately retired, from the Air Force (having switched when the new branch was created at the end of WWII), after having served during the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam eras. He was twice wounded in battle in the Pacific Island campaign, and worked in military intelligence, and then as an instructor, for the remainder of his career. He left this life in 2007. A fellow Marine, who would visit when passing through our area, told me that my father (a machine gunner during the war) reunited over 300 Japanese soldiers with their ancestors. My father once wrote down some memories of his three years in the Pacific (the papers upon which, to my utter regret, were lost), but he never spoke of what happened in battle.
Always watch for things you wouldn't expect. My dad passed in 1996, and even just recently, found a letter between the pages of an old book of his. Those are the kind of treasures I enjoy in life.
I worked for a body shop in Speedway Indiana, one of our customers was a English chap who was working for Zerox antifreeze division in Indianapolis. He owned a Jag sedan and often had accidents. He told me about his experience flying for the RAF during WWll flying a p38, his mission was to follow the bombers into Germany and record bombing run to record the damage. His 38 did not have guns and he had to fly in at low altitude and slow take pictures of the damage from the American bombers. He said he had to come in low take picture and try to get out before the gunners got a range on his plane. He was reserved and a quite kind of guy but told me how scared he was that he would jamb the throttles to the emergency setting and beat on the dash and scream "climb you sob". He said his plane often caught flak but none fatal. He told me when he go back to his base with damaged engines from being on emergency power setting for his claim out and back to the channel. Since it was against the rules to use emergency power he could have been disciplined for abusing the engines. He never was and after the war he joined the American Air force and became a test pilot for new jet fighters in Huston Taxes. He told me he quit being a test pilot when a plane he was test flying had engine problem and had to fly over the roof top of Huston with almost no control and managed to dodge tall buildings and get across the city and I cannot remember if he landed or bailed out but he told me it was his last flight.
He Was one fo the greatest generations. Imagine that just after the the 17teens just bombed you had to slow down and fly low over the bombing run, take pictures and try to get home. He praised the p38 for it speed and power to claim. BTW the Allison v12 were manufactured at the Alison engineering factory. Another note is my next door neighbor Frank Hedrick worded at the Factory during the war and was on the team to develop the v12 and they doubled the HP during the war.
jim Deal
Outstanding program! I very much enjoyed listening to this American Hero.
You had me glued to the seat for an hour and got quite an education on what you all went through that I never heard before. The explanations were perfect, learned a great deal about your many difficulties like flying through tropical storms, flack, barge traps, horsepower requirements, Fuel, ammo, torque and so much more.
Really impressed with your memory all these years later and how you maintain a level head through all that chaos. Thank you for all you and your squadron mates did to keep on the winning side. There won't ever be another generation like yours to bring us so safely through so much turmoil.
Thankyou so much for this. P-38 is my absolute favorite WWII plane. Was a pleasure to listen.
Absolute HERO! He and all that served and those that serve now! Not many truly think about what kind of country we would be without these hero's! I had the privilege of knowing two WWII Pilots. Neither were ones to talk about their heroism but heroes they were! Thank You to this "channel" for documenting and sharing these Historical accounts!