This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Goebel, Robert John, Lt Col USAF(Ret).
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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.
1943-1943, P-40 Warhawk/Kittyhawk
From Year 1943
To Year 1943
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
P-40 Warhawk/Kittyhawk Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Curtiss P-40N / Kittyhawk IV Length 33.46 ft | 10.20 m Width 37.47 ft | 11.42 m Height 12.37 ft | 3.77 m Engine(s) 1 x Allison V-1710--81 inline piston engine generating 1,360hp. Empty Weight 6,005 lbs | 2,724 kg MTOW 8,858 lbs | 4,018 kg Max Speed 378 mph | 609 km/h | 329 kts Max Range 240 miles | 386 km Ceiling 38,156 ft | 11,630 m | 7.2 miles Climb Rate 2,142.86 ft/min (653 m/min) Hardpoints 1 Armament 6 x 12.7mm machine guns 1 x 500lb bomb under fuselage Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* Model 75I - Prototype Base Model derived from XP-37A airframe fitted with Allison 1,150hp V-1710-11 inline engine. * P-40 - United States Army Air Corps production version fitted with V-1710-33 powerplant. * Hawk 81-A1 - Export model for French use. * P-40B - Improved model featuring improved armor and armament with seal-sealing fuel tanks. * P-40C - Additional 2 x 12.7mm machine guns added to wings; improved seal-sealing fuel tanks. * P-40D - Fitted with V-1710-39 generating 1,150hp; increase performance at high altitude; improved supercharger. * P-40E - Only 4 x 12.7mm machine guns in wings. * P-40F - Improved supercharger. * P-40L - Similar to the P-40F with improved supercharger and 1,300hp Packard V-1650-1 (license-built 1,300hp Rolls-Royce Merlin) powerplant. * P-40K - Based on the P-40E model with V-1710-33 powerplant. * P-40M - Fitted with V-1710-71 powerplant. * P-40N - Fitted with V-1710-81 OR V1710-99 OR V1710-115 powerplants; improved performance capabilities; decreased overall weight.