Robert B. Westbrook (pilot)

Robert B. Westbrook
Nickname(s)	Westy
Born	9 November 1917 Los Angeles, California
Died	22 November 1944 (aged 27) Makassar
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	California National Guard United States Army Air Forces
Years of service	1930s–1943
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Commands held	44th Fighter Squadron
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Air Medal (15)

Robert Burdette Westbrook (9 November 1917 – 22 November 1944) was a United States Army Air Forces lieutenant colonel and a World War II flying ace. Westbrook, a member of the California National Guard before World War II, completed flight training in 1942, and was sent to the South Pacific with the 44th Fighter Squadron, which he later commanded. Westbrook gained his first victories while flying the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and in late 1943 began flying the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. After scoring his fourteenth victory, Westbrook was sent back to the continental United States on leave in spring 1944, returning as aide to the commander of the Thirteenth Air Force. In late summer he became deputy commander of the 347th Fighter Group. With 20 victories, Westbrook became the Thirteenth Air Force's highest scoring ace. He was killed in November 1944 while strafing a Japanese gunboat.^[1]

World War II

On 25 September 1943, Westbrook was promoted to Major and became commander of the 44th Fighter Squadron. On 10 October, he scored the 44th's first P-38 victory on a mission with the 339th Fighter Squadron.^[2]

Legacy

A street in Kadena Air Base is named for Westbrook.^[3]

References

Notes

1. Sherman, Stephen (20 April 2012). "P-38 Lightning PTO Aces of World War Two". acepilots.com. Retrieved 2016-11-27.
2. Molesworth 2003, p. 69.
3. "Kadena Air Base Street Names". Kadena Air Base. Retrieved 27 November 2016.

Sources

• Molesworth, Carl (2003). P-40 Warhawk Aces of the Pacific. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84176-536-5.