10/14/2026
On this day in Marine Corps history — October 14, 1918
Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot and Gunnery Sergeant Robert G. Robinson of Squadron C, 1st Marine Aviation Force, were flying a bombing raid over Pittham, Belgium, when motor trouble pulled their plane out of formation. Twelve enemy scouts swarmed them.
Robinson shot down one aircraft before a bullet tore away most of his elbow and jammed his gun. He cleared the jam with one hand and kept fighting until two more wounds — stomach and thigh — finally dropped him. Talbot then attacked with his forward guns, downed another scout, and with his observer unconscious and the engine failing, dove across the German trenches at about 50 feet. He landed at the nearest hospital to get Robinson care, then flew back to his aerodrome alone.
They were the first U.S. Marine Corps aviators awarded the Medal of Honor. Their actions that day — and on an earlier raid on October 8 — still set the standard for Marine aircrew.
Semper Fidelis.
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Next meeting: Thursday, October 22 at 1900, American Legion Post 109 (Corona de Tucson). Come early if you can — last regular meeting before we go dark for November and December.
