Roberts, George S. (George Spencer), 1918-1984

<p>Class 42-C-SE 3/6/1942 2nd Lt. 0441127 Fairmont, WV
September 24, 1918-March 8, 1984
Unit: 99th Pursuit Squadron (later known as the Fighter Squadron)
Awards: Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak clusters and two presidential citations
Pilot roster listing</p>

<p>Roberts was born in London, Kanawha County in West Virginia, the son of Spencer and Estella Roberts. He graduated from Fairmont’s Dunbar High School in 1934 and from West Virginia State College (now University) in 1938, with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical arts.</p>

<p>After receiving his pilot’s license in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, Roberts entered aviation cadet training with the first class of Tuskegee Airmen in July 1941, the “washing out” rate was high, with only five of the 13 in George Roberts’ class graduating. Roberts completed the training and became the first African-American military pilot from West Virginia. He joined the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later known as the Fighter Squadron), and on June 1, 1942, he became the first African American commander of that squadron, serving in North Africa and Italy.</p>

<p>“It was a different time back then,” Roberts’ wife, Edith stated. “The government had actually done a study after World War I to determine if black people were capable of leading men in combat.”</p>

<p>Battling deep-seeded institutional racism, the young cadets training to be fighter pilots at an airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama, wore their uniforms with pride and dreamed of the day they would take to the skies to fight the enemy.</p>

<p>Class 42-C-SE 3/6/1942 2nd Lt. 0441127 Fairmont, WV
September 24, 1918-March 8, 1984
Unit: 99th Pursuit Squadron (later known as the Fighter Squadron)
Awards: Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak clusters and two presidential citations
Pilot roster listing</p>

<p>Roberts was born in London, Kanawha County in West Virginia, the son of Spencer and Estella Roberts. He graduated from Fairmont’s Dunbar High School in 1934 and from West Virginia State College (now University) in 1938, with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical arts.</p>

<p>After receiving his pilot’s license in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, Roberts entered aviation cadet training with the first class of Tuskegee Airmen in July 1941, the “washing out” rate was high, with only five of the 13 in George Roberts’ class graduating. Roberts completed the training and became the first African-American military pilot from West Virginia. He joined the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later known as the Fighter Squadron), and on June 1, 1942, he became the first African American commander of that squadron, serving in North Africa and Italy.</p>

<p>“It was a different time back then,” Roberts’ wife, Edith stated. “The government had actually done a study after World War I to determine if black people were capable of leading men in combat.”</p>

<p>Battling deep-seeded institutional racism, the young cadets training to be fighter pilots at an airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama, wore their uniforms with pride and dreamed of the day they would take to the skies to fight the enemy.</p>