Robert F. Travis

Brigadier General Robert Falligant Travis (26 December 1904 – 5 August 1950) was a United States Army Air Forces general during World War II.

A 1928 graduate of the

Robert Falligant Travis was born in Savannah, Georgia, on 26 December 1904,^[1] the son of Robert Jessie Travis, a lawyer who reached the rank of major general in the Georgia National Guard, and his wife Rena née Falligant. He had a younger brother, William Livingston, and two sisters, Rena and Cecilia.^[2]

Travis entered the University of Georgia in Athens in 1924, but received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York,^[3] which he entered on 1 July 1924. He graduated on 9 June 1928 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery, ranking 115th out of 261 in class of 1928.^[4] His brother, William, graduated 53d in the class of 1933,^[5] and would eventually reach the rank of colonel in the United States Air Force.^[2]

Travis commenced flight training on 1 September 1928 at the

In March 1939, Travis went to the

Travis was deputy commander of the

As the plane reached a speed of 125 miles per hour (201 km/h) about three quarters of the way down the 8,000-foot (2,400 m) runway with the propellers rotating at 2,800 rpm, the number two propeller suddenly went up to 3,500 rpm. Steffes ordered the propeller feathered. The aircraft lifted off at an airspeed of 155 miles per hour (249 km/h), but the landing gear failed to retract. Then the number three propeller suddenly went to 3,500 rpm. Moore reduced its speed to 2,800 rpm by reducing the manifold pressure. The drag caused by the landing gear reduced the plane's speed to 145 miles per hour (233 km/h). The crew attempted an emergency landing. The plane turned around but lost lift, and crashed at 120 miles per hour (190 km/h).^[13]

The plane broke up on landing, and burst into flames. All ten people in the rear compartment died in the crash, but eight of the ten in the nose section, which broke off, escaped. Travis was pulled alive from the wreckage but died on his way to hospital.^[13] The high explosives in the bomb detonated during the fire 20 minutes after the crash, spreading wreckage and burning fuel over a wide area. An additional seven people who were not part of the crew died on the ground in the explosion.^[14][15]

The 19 bodies were taken to the McCune Garden Chapel in Vacaville.^[16] Travis was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on 16 August 1950. He was survived by his wife, Jane Frances Travis, who was interred with him after she died on 22 November 1987,^[17] and his four children: Jayne, Robert, John and Roger.^[18] Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base was officially renamed Travis Air Force Base in his honor on 20 October 1950. A formal renaming ceremony was held on 20 April 1951, presided over by the Governor of California, Earl Warren, which was attended by Travis' family.^[19]

Awards and decorations

	Command pilot	[3]
	Distinguished Service Cross	[9]
	Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters	[9]
	Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters	[3]
	Purple Heart	[3]
	Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters	[3]
	Army Commendation Medal	[3]
	Distinguished Unit Citation	[3]
	bronze service star	[3]
	bronze service star	[3]
	service stars	[3]
	World War II Victory Medal	[3]
	National Defense Service Medal	[3]
	Air Force Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters	[3]
	Legion of Honor , grade of Chevalier (France)	[3]
	Croix de Guerre with palm (France)	[3]
	Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)	[3]
	Croix de Guerre with palm (Belgium)	[3]

Distinguished Service Cross citation

Travis, Robert F.

Brigadier General, U.S. Army Air Forces

41st Bombardment Wing, Eighth Air Force

Date of Action: August 31, 1943 to September 21, 1944

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Brigadier General Robert Falligant Travis, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer of the 41st Bombardment Wing, Eighth Air Force, while directing bombing missions from 31 August 1943 through 21 September 1944. In operations over Germany, Denmark, France, and Czechoslovakia, with and without fighter support, General Travis distinguished himself by personally choosing to lead bombardment elements on combat missions in which it was known that heavy and extremely hazardous opposition would be met. In the face of fierce attacks by enemy airplanes which often completely overwhelmed fighter support, and very often under unusually adverse weather conditions which caused other elements to abort, this officer has exhibited great courage, coolness, and determination in carrying out operations as planned. On twenty-three missions he occupied the position of Air Commander of the 1st Bombardment Division and as such he was responsible for the efforts of hundreds of B-17 aircraft. Six times he has commanded Combat Bombardment Wing formations with great skill. During this period he has been wounded in action and the airplanes in which he has flown have repeatedly received battle damage as a result of enemy attacks. The extraordinary heroism displayed by General Travis in sustained operations has been, in large measure, responsible for the infliction of severe damage on enemy installations throughout Continental Europe. His gallant leadership, personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Brigadier General Travis on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.^[20]

Dates of rank

Insignia	Rank	Component	Date	Source
	Second Lieutenant	Field Artillery	9 June 1928	[3]
	Second Lieutenant	Air Corps	8 September 1929	[1]
	First Lieutenant	Air Corps	1 June 1934	[3]
	Captain (temporary)	Air Corps	20 April 1935	[1]
	First Lieutenant	Air Corps	17 June 1936	[1]
	Captain	Air Corps	9 June 1938	[1]
	Major	Army of the United States	31 January 1941	[1]
	Major (temporary)	Air Corps	1 February 1941	[1]
	Lieutenant Colonel (temporary)	Army of the United States	5 January 1942	[1]
	Lieutenant Colonel	Army of the United States	1 February 1942	[1]
	Colonel (temporary)	Army of the United States	1 March 1942	[1]
	Brigadier General (temporary)	Army of the United States	4 May 1943	[1]
	Major	Air Corps	9 June 1945	[1]
	Colonel	United States Air Force	2 April 1948	[1]

Notes