Robert B. Tresville Jr. (May 9, 1921 – June 24, 1944) was an African American pilot who served in the original

332nd Fighter Group The 332d Expeditionary Operations Group is a provisional air expeditionary group of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command, currently active. It was inactivated on 8 May 2012 and reactivated 16 November 2014. The group forms part of ...

of the United States Army Air Forces, also known as the

Tuskegee Airmen The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of primarily African American military pilots (fighter and bomber) and airmen who fought in World War II. They formed the 332d Fighter Group and the 477th Fighter Group, 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) of the ...

, during World War II. He was only the seventh African American to graduate from West Point. He was Commanding Officer of the

100th Fighter Squadron The 100th Fighter Squadron (100 FS) is a unit of the Alabama Air National Guard 187th Fighter Wing located at Dannelly Field, Alabama. The 100th is equipped with the General Dynamics F-16C+ Fighting Falcon. The 100th FS was one of the Tuskeg ...

and was widely considered to be one of the 332nd Fighter Group's most promising leaders. He went missing in action after his plane went down over the Mediterranean Sea in June 1944."Stoutly battled racial discrimination"; The Washington Post, April 10, 2011 Sunday, METRO; Pg. C07, 813 words, T. Rees Shapiro

Early years

Originally named Robert Leslie Tresville, Robert was born on May 9, 1921, to parents, Robert Bernard Tresville and Irma Eloise (nee Jones) in Galveston, Texas. They later moved to

Fort Huachuca Fort Huachuca is a United States Army installation, established on 3 March 1877 as Camp Huachuca. The garrison is now under the command of the United States Army Installation Management Command. It is in Cochise County in southeast Arizona, appr ...

in Arizona where his father, the band leader for the 9th Cavalry Regiment band, was posted. Robert's middle name was later changed from Leslie to Bernard making him Robert Bernard Tresville Jr. Shortly after his birth his father was transferred to

Fort Benning Fort Benning is a United States Army post near Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to the Alabama–Georgia border. Fort Benning supports more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees and civilian employees ...

in Georgia and became director of the

24th Infantry Regiment The 24th Infantry Regiment was a unit of the United States Army, active from 1869 until 1951, and since 1995. Before its original dissolution in 1951, it was primarily made up of African-American soldiers. History The 24th Infantry Regiment (o ...

band. Robert had two younger siblings: a sister who died shortly after birth and a brother named Brittingham. Tresville graduated with honors from high school in 1938 and entered Pennsylvania State College. Shortly thereafter Congressman Arthur Mitchell appointed Tresville to the West Point after his first year. Captain Robert Bernard Tresville Jr.married Vivien Louise (nee Murphy) in 1943 and had a daughter who was born after his deat
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World War II

Tresville applied for pilot training while at West Point and was sent to Tuskegee Army Air Field where he was trained as a single engine pilot. He graduated as a member of Class 42-K on December 13, 1942, and then traveled back to West Point where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Regular Army of the United States. In December 1943, Tresville was appointed Commanding Officer of the

succeeding the command of Lieutenant Elwood Driver. As part of the

, Tresville and the 100th Fighter Squadron were deployed to Europe and arrived in Italy on January 29, 1944. On June 24, 1944, Tresville was assigned to lead a mission over the Mediterranean Sea to strafe an enemy supply line located west of Airasca, Italy. The group was instructed to fly low to avoid being picked up by enemy radar. Nearing the target Tresville was unable to correct his plane as it slid off course and plunged into the water. Lieutenant Woodrow Crockett took over command of the group after Tresville's plane crashed and led them safely back to Ramitelli Air Field in Italy. Tresville is among the names listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the

Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial is a World War II American military war grave cemetery, located in Nettuno, near Anzio, Italy. The cemetery, containing 7,858 American war dead, covers and was dedicated in 1956. It is administered by ...

in Italy. Prior to his death, Tresville had successfully completed 23 missions and had distinguished himself both in terms of the leadership and courage that he displayed. These traits earned him the respect and admiration of his fellow pilots.

Awards

Air Medal The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Criteria The Air Medal was establish ...

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...

. * Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006

References

External links

Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Listing

Tresville, Robert B. (Tuskegee Airmen), CPT

Tuskegee Airmen Archive
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tresville, Robert B. 1921 births 1944 deaths Tuskegee Airmen African-American aviators People from Galveston, Texas Aviators from Texas Aviators from Arizona United States Army Air Forces personnel killed in World War II Missing in action of World War II Aerial disappearances of military personnel in action Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Italy Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1944

Early years

World War II

Awards

See also

References

External links