This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Goebel, Robert John, Lt Col USAF(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Racine, Wisconsin
Last Address Torrance, California
Date of Passing Feb 20, 2011
Location of Interment Green Hills Memorial Park - Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Wall/Plot Coordinates Park View Terrace Lawn Crypt: 263 D
He destroyed 11 enemy aircraft in aerial combat in 3 months in the Mediterranean Theater in WWII.
His Silver Star citation reads: Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Robert J. Goebel, United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action as Pilot of a P-51 type aircraft of the 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, FIFTEENTH Air Force, in action on 18 August 1944. On that date, Lieutenant Goebel participated as escort to heavy bombers attacking strategic enemy installations in Rumania. Over the target, Lieutenant Goebel observed sixteen (16) enemy aircraft preparing to attack his flight leader. Displaying outstanding aggressiveness and courage, with complete disregard for the overwhelming superiority of enemy aircraft, Lieutenant Goebel immediately engaged the hostile ships, and, in the ensuing engagement destroyed two (2) enemy fighters and forced the rest to withdraw, thus saving the life of his comrade. En route to base, though having serious mechanical difficulties, he again intercepted enemy aircraft and accounted for another enemy fighter destroyed. By his conspicuous gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty, together with his outstanding combat record of over fifty-five (55) successful missions against the enemy and nine (9) enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial flight, Lieutenant Goebel has reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
General Orders: Headquarters, 15th Air Force, General Orders No. 3536 (1944)
"Mustang Ace: Memoirs of a P-51 Fighter Pilot", Robert J. Goebel, Pacifica Press, 1992.
1946-1948, 1121Z, Air Force Reserve Command
Attention! The dates you selected for being assigned to this Unit are outside the 1977 to Present we believe this Unit was in existence. Can you please re-check your dates and click HERE if you wish to amend these? If you believe your Unit was in existence during your selected dates, please let us know at admin@togetherweserved.com.
The Air Force Reserve Command is a Major Command of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federally controlled Air Reserve Component of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of duly appointed commissioned officers and enlisted airmen.
AFRC supports the Air Force mission to defend the United States through the control and exploitation of air and space by supporting Global Engagement. AFRC also plays an integral role in the day-to-day Air Force mission and is not strictly a force held in reserve for possible war or contingency operations.
The federal reserve component of the United States Air Force, AFRC has approximately 450 aircraft assigned for which it has sole control. as well as access to several hundred additional active duty USAF aircraft via AFRC "Associate" wings that are collocated with active duty Air Force wings, sharing access to those aircraft.. The inventory includes the latest, most capable models of aircraft that are also assigned to the active-duty U.S. Air Force. On any given day, 99 percent of AFRC's aircraft are mission-ready and able to deploy within 72 hours.
The purpose of the Air Force Reserve as derived from Title 10 United States Code is to:
Provide combat-ready units and individuals for active duty whenever there are not enough trained units and people in the Regular component of the Air Force to perform any national security mission.
