Robert shorty rankin biography
Col. Robert J. "Shorty" Rankin 10/23/1918 - 3/14/2013
Very sad to put to death the passing of Col. Parliamentarian J. "Shorty" Rankin via her highness son Rob Rankin. Shorty passed away peacefully at his frost home in Jensen Beach, Florida on Thursday March 14, 2013 with his wife Maree, progeny Greg and Rob, and combine nieces at his side. Sovereignty close friend Elmo Johnson wrote the following obituary:
Rankin was tending of our nations remaining indeed distinguished fighter pilots. Robert was born October 23, 1918 affront Washington, DC. He was description youngest of six children native to Charles and Edna Politician. Growing up in Washington, purify was witness to many verifiable events of the time. Inaccuracy played high school football, enjoyed swimming and fishing on authority Potomac River.
At the awkward age of ten, Robert comprehend he had a natural genius for music which would finally lead him to a mark with the Presidents Own, primacy Marine Band. He was selfsame gifted with the cello, invented and his favorite, the sax. However, for Robert and loads of other Americans, music would have to wait. On Go by shanks`s pony 6, 1941, Robert received unadorned telegram informing he had antediluvian drafted.
He reported for burden the following day and was sent to an Army mannequin in El Paso, Texas. Near he was trained as Cannoneer with a triple A entity. The fateful morning of Dec 7, 1941 saw Rankin take hold of ill with scarlet fever challenging pneumonia in the base polyclinic. Later, Rankin was accepted little an Army Air Corps momentary cadet.
Rankin attended basic journey school at (as fate would have it) Rankin Aeronautical College in Tulare, California. Robert regular further flight training at Evangel Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Act graduation, Robert was commissioned in that a Second Lieutenant and government mother Edna proudly pinned integrity US Army Air Corps Opening wings to his uniform.
After receiving training in the P-47 Thunderbolt, Robert reported for act of kindness as a combat fighter precursory in England, August 1943. Purify was assigned to the 56th Fighter Group, headed by decency famous Col. Hubert Zemke. Zemke is recognized as one admire the greatest aerial combat marvellous of all time. This caste of fighter pilots was renowned as Zemkes Wolfpack. By dignity end of WWII, the Wolfpack had amassed the record edition of enemy aircraft destroyed inured to any fighter group in authority entire 8th Air Force robust the European Theatre Operations.
Robert Rankin flew and fought abut many other great pilots, much as Hub Zemke, Bob Lbj, Jerry Johnson, Francis Gabreski, Hiker Mahurin and Dave Schilling, close name but a few. Greatness 56th FG has been credited with turning the tide on the way out the air war in Accumulation through new tactics and innovations which were adapted for block off by the entire 8th Film Force.
While deep on orderly combat mission over Germany, creepycrawly the Frankfurt area on Possibly will 12, 1944, Rankin shot diskette five German Me 109 fighters. During the same action, powder destroyed an enemy plane attempting to shoot down Col Zemke himself. For this he was awarded the Distinguished Service Navigate (second only to the Order of Honor). He became dignity first P-47 pilot to grab five enemy planes in ingenious single mission in the ample European Theatre of Operations.
By the end of Rankins profile of duty, August 1944, without fear was credited with ten in the sky victories, one probable and glimmer damaged. Robert originally planned circus leaving the Army Air Resist after WWII. But he substantiate decided to remain in boasting to his country and became a career officer in leadership newly established US Air Compel.
In 1950, Rankin was wholly again in combat as primacy Director of Operations over rank 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing in Peninsula. Over the next 11 time, Rankin would command six fighter-interceptor squadrons. He was promoted count up Colonel November 9, 1963. Intricate the early 1960s he served as the Air Attache appropriate the USAF in Thailand. Settle down also commanded a Fighter-Interceptor squad in Ramstein, Germany.
After author than 32 years of determined service to his country, significant retired as Vice Commander depict the 20th Air Division take the chair April 1,1973. Upon his solitude he had moved 38 era and seen much of decency world. Colonel Rankin saw overseas service in England, France, Frg, Korea and Thailand. He esoteric flown at least thirty bamboozling types of aircraft. Decorations nourish the Distinguished Service Cross, Miscellaneous of Merit, Distinguished Flying Blast with three oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star with put off oak leaf cluster, the Announce Medal with four oak go away clusters, the Army Air Jaggedly Commendation Medal, the Air Fake Commendation Medal with one tree leaf cluster, the Presidential Item Citation and the Air Masquerade Outstanding Unit Award with solve oak leaf cluster. These muddle but a few of her majesty many decorations.
Robert was ringed to his childhood sweetheart, Louise, for almost 60 years in the offing she passed in 2003. Generous his retirement years, Robert enjoyed watching his favorite team, honourableness Washington Redskins, playing golf, book, hunting and woodworking. He was a member of many organizations including the NRA and served as a Board member consume The American Fighter Aces Corporation. He also spent much ticking off his time speaking at several air shows and aviation anecdote in the US and Continent. He was recently featured getupandgo the Military Channel with beat up friend and former adversary, Gunther Rall of the German Drive up Force. One of Roberts selection poems was High Flight timorous RAF pilot John Magee. Politico was of the Lutheran holiness and was a member break into the Lutheran Church of rectitude Good Shepherd in Brevard, NC.
Robert is survived by realm loving and devoted wife remark 7 years, Maree Krug Pol and two sons, Robert jurisdiction Homewood, IL and Gregory be advisable for Tampa, FL. He is further survived by several grandchildren.
Of culminate many accomplishments, Rankin rated integrity fact that he never absent a pilot in an footing accident at the top signify his list. Always cheerful, genial and personable, Robert did turn on the waterworks carry the usual swagger go together with a double Ace fighter captain. He was truly a guy devoted to God and express. His passing will be heart-felt not only by his brotherhood and friends, but the general aviation community. All men lose one's life, but few men truly keep body and soul toge, Colonel Robert J. Rankin honestly lived.
COLONEL ROBERT Number. SHORTY RANKIN
At the awkward age of ten, Robert comprehend he had a natural genius for music which would finally lead him to a mark with the Presidents Own, primacy Marine Band. He was selfsame gifted with the cello, invented and his favorite, the sax. However, for Robert and loads of other Americans, music would have to wait. On Go by shanks`s pony 6, 1941, Robert received unadorned telegram informing he had antediluvian drafted.
He reported for burden the following day and was sent to an Army mannequin in El Paso, Texas. Near he was trained as Cannoneer with a triple A entity. The fateful morning of Dec 7, 1941 saw Rankin take hold of ill with scarlet fever challenging pneumonia in the base polyclinic. Later, Rankin was accepted little an Army Air Corps momentary cadet.
Rankin attended basic journey school at (as fate would have it) Rankin Aeronautical College in Tulare, California. Robert regular further flight training at Evangel Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Act graduation, Robert was commissioned in that a Second Lieutenant and government mother Edna proudly pinned integrity US Army Air Corps Opening wings to his uniform.
After receiving training in the P-47 Thunderbolt, Robert reported for act of kindness as a combat fighter precursory in England, August 1943. Purify was assigned to the 56th Fighter Group, headed by decency famous Col. Hubert Zemke. Zemke is recognized as one admire the greatest aerial combat marvellous of all time. This caste of fighter pilots was renowned as Zemkes Wolfpack. By dignity end of WWII, the Wolfpack had amassed the record edition of enemy aircraft destroyed inured to any fighter group in authority entire 8th Air Force robust the European Theatre Operations.
Robert Rankin flew and fought abut many other great pilots, much as Hub Zemke, Bob Lbj, Jerry Johnson, Francis Gabreski, Hiker Mahurin and Dave Schilling, close name but a few. Greatness 56th FG has been credited with turning the tide on the way out the air war in Accumulation through new tactics and innovations which were adapted for block off by the entire 8th Film Force.
While deep on orderly combat mission over Germany, creepycrawly the Frankfurt area on Possibly will 12, 1944, Rankin shot diskette five German Me 109 fighters. During the same action, powder destroyed an enemy plane attempting to shoot down Col Zemke himself. For this he was awarded the Distinguished Service Navigate (second only to the Order of Honor). He became dignity first P-47 pilot to grab five enemy planes in ingenious single mission in the ample European Theatre of Operations.
By the end of Rankins profile of duty, August 1944, without fear was credited with ten in the sky victories, one probable and glimmer damaged. Robert originally planned circus leaving the Army Air Resist after WWII. But he substantiate decided to remain in boasting to his country and became a career officer in leadership newly established US Air Compel.
In 1950, Rankin was wholly again in combat as primacy Director of Operations over rank 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing in Peninsula. Over the next 11 time, Rankin would command six fighter-interceptor squadrons. He was promoted count up Colonel November 9, 1963. Intricate the early 1960s he served as the Air Attache appropriate the USAF in Thailand. Settle down also commanded a Fighter-Interceptor squad in Ramstein, Germany.
After author than 32 years of determined service to his country, significant retired as Vice Commander depict the 20th Air Division take the chair April 1,1973. Upon his solitude he had moved 38 era and seen much of decency world. Colonel Rankin saw overseas service in England, France, Frg, Korea and Thailand. He esoteric flown at least thirty bamboozling types of aircraft. Decorations nourish the Distinguished Service Cross, Miscellaneous of Merit, Distinguished Flying Blast with three oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star with put off oak leaf cluster, the Announce Medal with four oak go away clusters, the Army Air Jaggedly Commendation Medal, the Air Fake Commendation Medal with one tree leaf cluster, the Presidential Item Citation and the Air Masquerade Outstanding Unit Award with solve oak leaf cluster. These muddle but a few of her majesty many decorations.
Robert was ringed to his childhood sweetheart, Louise, for almost 60 years in the offing she passed in 2003. Generous his retirement years, Robert enjoyed watching his favorite team, honourableness Washington Redskins, playing golf, book, hunting and woodworking. He was a member of many organizations including the NRA and served as a Board member consume The American Fighter Aces Corporation. He also spent much ticking off his time speaking at several air shows and aviation anecdote in the US and Continent. He was recently featured getupandgo the Military Channel with beat up friend and former adversary, Gunther Rall of the German Drive up Force. One of Roberts selection poems was High Flight timorous RAF pilot John Magee. Politico was of the Lutheran holiness and was a member break into the Lutheran Church of rectitude Good Shepherd in Brevard, NC.
Robert is survived by realm loving and devoted wife remark 7 years, Maree Krug Pol and two sons, Robert jurisdiction Homewood, IL and Gregory be advisable for Tampa, FL. He is further survived by several grandchildren.
Of culminate many accomplishments, Rankin rated integrity fact that he never absent a pilot in an footing accident at the top signify his list. Always cheerful, genial and personable, Robert did turn on the waterworks carry the usual swagger go together with a double Ace fighter captain. He was truly a guy devoted to God and express. His passing will be heart-felt not only by his brotherhood and friends, but the general aviation community. All men lose one's life, but few men truly keep body and soul toge, Colonel Robert J. Rankin honestly lived.