William B. Robertson
Encyclopedia
Major William Bryan Robertson (1893 –1943) was an American
aviator and aviation executive who was the co-founder of Lambert-St. Louis Flying Field as well as the owner and President of Robertson Aircraft Corporation
(RAC) located there, a company which he had co-founded with his brother, Frank, in 1918.
RAC provided a wide range of aviation services as well as having operated Contract Air Mail service from St. Louis to Chicago (CAM-2) beginning in 1926. Along with the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, in 1927 Robertson backed his chief Air Mail pilot, Charles Lindbergh
, to compete in the Orteig Prize
and funded the design and construction of his aircraft, the Spirit of St. Louis
, for the New York-Paris flight.
In 1924, Major Robertson became the first commanding officer of the Missouri National Guard Air Unit 35th Division, Aviation Section operating out of Lambert field with eight JNS (JN-4).
In 1927, Robertson left Robertson Aircraft Corporation, and formed an interest with the Curtiss-Wright
corporation. This created a division named Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company
to build the Curtiss-Robertson Robin aircraft. Robertson left the company in 1933 when it merged into Curtiss-Wright
In November 1929, the small town of Anglum, MO, located adjacent to Lambert field was renamed Robertson, MO, in honor of his contributions to aviation.
On August 1, 1943, a WACO CG-4A
military troop and cargo transport glider built under license by RAC crashed at Lambert Field in St. Louis during a demonstration flight when its right wing separated shortly after it had been released at 3000 feet (914.4 m) by its Army C-47 tow plane killing all ten on board including Maj. Robertson. Robertson's then 17-year old son, James, was a passenger in a successful flight of the glider made immediately before the fatal flight.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aviator and aviation executive who was the co-founder of Lambert-St. Louis Flying Field as well as the owner and President of Robertson Aircraft Corporation
Robertson Aircraft Corporation
Robertson Aircraft Coroporation was a post-World War I American aviation service company based at the Lambert-St. Louis Flying Field near St. Louis, Missouri, that flew passengers and U.S. Air Mail, gave flying lessons, and performed exhibition flights...
(RAC) located there, a company which he had co-founded with his brother, Frank, in 1918.
RAC provided a wide range of aviation services as well as having operated Contract Air Mail service from St. Louis to Chicago (CAM-2) beginning in 1926. Along with the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, in 1927 Robertson backed his chief Air Mail pilot, Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
, to compete in the Orteig Prize
Orteig Prize
The Orteig Prize was a $25,000 reward offered on May 19, 1919, by New York hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first allied aviator to fly non-stop from New York City to Paris or vice-versa. On offer for five years, it attracted no competitors...
and funded the design and construction of his aircraft, the Spirit of St. Louis
Spirit of St. Louis
The Spirit of St. Louis is the custom-built, single engine, single-seat monoplane that was flown solo by Charles Lindbergh on May 20–21, 1927, on the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris for which Lindbergh won the $25,000 Orteig Prize.Lindbergh took off in the Spirit from Roosevelt...
, for the New York-Paris flight.
In 1924, Major Robertson became the first commanding officer of the Missouri National Guard Air Unit 35th Division, Aviation Section operating out of Lambert field with eight JNS (JN-4).
In 1927, Robertson left Robertson Aircraft Corporation, and formed an interest with the Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....
corporation. This created a division named Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company
Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company
Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company was a American aircraft manufacturer formed to build the Curtiss Robin aircraft.The company was founded on November 9, 1927 with a funding of $500,000. Initial production of its Curtiss Robin aircraft was at a factory in Garden City, Long Island....
to build the Curtiss-Robertson Robin aircraft. Robertson left the company in 1933 when it merged into Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States at the end of World War II, but has evolved to largely become a component manufacturer, specializing in actuators, aircraft controls, valves, and metalworking....
In November 1929, the small town of Anglum, MO, located adjacent to Lambert field was renamed Robertson, MO, in honor of his contributions to aviation.
On August 1, 1943, a WACO CG-4A
Waco CG-4
The Waco CG-4 was the most widely used United States troop/cargo military glider of World War II. It was designated the CG-4 by the United States Army Air Forces, and named Hadrian in British military service....
military troop and cargo transport glider built under license by RAC crashed at Lambert Field in St. Louis during a demonstration flight when its right wing separated shortly after it had been released at 3000 feet (914.4 m) by its Army C-47 tow plane killing all ten on board including Maj. Robertson. Robertson's then 17-year old son, James, was a passenger in a successful flight of the glider made immediately before the fatal flight.