Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A.

Size: 18.5 x 22 inches

*During his service during WWII MAJ/LTC George L. Robinson flew with the 303rd Bomb Group before being promoted to the Group Commander of the 306th Bombardment Group where he flew as Group Commander in the lead B-17 aircraft from June 20, 1943, to September 23, 1944. During this time he flew on many infamous B-17 Flying Fortresses such as: “The '8' Ball" - "Holy Mackerel" - "Memphis Tot" - "Ooold Soljer" - “Joe Btfsplk II”, and "S-for-Sugar".

MAJ/LTC George L. Robinson - Bombardment Group Service History:

303rd Bombardment Group

306th Bombardment Group

MAJ/LTC George L. Robinson - Bomb Squadron Service History:

359th Bomb Squadron

360th Bomb Squadron

427th Bomb Squadron

This extremely rare and museum-grade World War II artifact is an original 8th Air Force - 303rd Bomb Group and 306th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress pilot navigational map from the personal bring-back collection of Lieutenant-Colonel George L Robinson.

MAJ/LTC George L. Robinson served as the fourth and longest-serving 8th Air Force Group Commander of the 306th Bombardment Group from June 20, 1943, to September 23, 1944. Robinson's leadership and bravery were exemplified through his 26 combat missions. His efforts were not only vital to the success of his B-17 group but also pivotal in several strategic operations of the 8th Air Force.

What makes this WWII combat navigation map even more interesting is that it was hand-cut on the outside edges by Lieutenant-Colonel George L Robinson to trim off the excess border and information Doing this made the map less bulky to carry and smaller/easier to open.

Early Missions

Robinson's initial missions set the stage for his illustrious career. His first recorded mission took place on November 17, 1942, piloting the B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball" of the 303BG/359BS. The target was the U-Boat pens at Saint-Nazaire, France, and the mission concluded successfully with Robinson returning to base (RTB) without incident. Just six days later, on November 23, 1942, he led another mission to the same target, this time flying B-17F 41-24609 "Holy Mackerel." Again, the mission was successful, and Robinson's aircraft returned safely.

Expanding Targets and Increasing Risks

As the war progressed, so did the complexity and danger of Robinson's missions. On December 12, 1942, he flew B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot" to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. This mission, too, was completed successfully with the aircraft returning intact. However, not all missions were free from complications. On December 30, 1942, mechanical failures forced Robinson to abort a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France, flying "Holy Mackerel."

Despite these setbacks, Robinson's resolve remained unshaken. He continued to lead crucial missions, such as the January 23, 1943, sortie targeting the U-Boat pens at Lorient, this time piloting B-17F 41-24610 "JoeBTFSPLK." The mission was executed successfully, adding to Robinson's growing list of achievements.

Mechanical Challenges and Strategic Successes

Mechanical issues again plagued Robinson on February 16, 1943, during a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Saint-Nazaire, France. Flying B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer," he was forced to abort the mission but managed to return safely. Nonetheless, Robinson's perseverance paid off on March 4, 1943, when he successfully led a bombing raid on the railroad marshalling yards at Rotterdam, Netherlands, in the same aircraft.

Robinson continued to lead high-stakes missions. On March 18, 1943, he piloted B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar" to bomb the U-Boat construction yards at Bremen-Vegesack, Germany, successfully returning to base.

Major Operations and Leadership

Robinson's tenure as group commander saw him leading significant operations. On June 25, 1943, he targeted Bremen, Germany, followed by a mission to Le Bourget, France, on August 16, 1943. His leadership was instrumental in these operations, which were critical in disrupting enemy logistics and infrastructure.

Further missions included strategic targets such as Achern near Strasbourg, Germany, on September 6, 1943, and Lille, France, on September 9, 1943. Each mission underscored Robinson's capability to lead under pressure and navigate the complexities of aerial warfare.

Later Missions and Legacy

The latter part of Robinson's career featured some of the most challenging and impactful missions. On October 2, 1943, he led a mission to bomb Emden, Germany, followed by another sortie to the same target on December 12, 1943. On Christmas Eve of 1943, he targeted rocket gun sites in the Pas de Calais area, France, a critical operation to mitigate the threat of V-weapons.

In 1944, Robinson's missions continued with strategic importance. On January 11, he targeted an aircraft component plant at Halberstad, Germany, followed by a crucial mission on April 22 to bomb the Hamm marshalling yards, disrupting enemy supply lines. His mission on May 31 to bomb Liege, Belgium, further showcased his relentless pursuit of victory.

Robinson's final recorded mission in this account was on September 5, 1944, targeting the Ludwigshagen chemical plant in Germany. This mission marked the culmination of his combat sorties, each reflecting his unwavering dedication and significant contributions to the Allied war effort.

MAJ/LTC George L. Robinson's 26 combat missions during World War II reflect a career marked by bravery, leadership, and strategic impact. From his early missions targeting U-Boat pens to his later sorties against critical industrial and logistical targets, Robinson's efforts were integral to the success of the 8th Air Force. His legacy is a testament to the courage and resilience of those who served in one of history's most challenging and decisive conflicts.

Flew 26 missions, several times leading the entire 8th Air Force on missions.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT 7 MISSIONS ARE MISSING. WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO HISTORICALLY ACCOUNT FOR 19 OF THE 26 AERIAL MISSIONS.

Mission #1

• Date: 17 November 1942

• Aircraft: B-17F 41-24581 "The '8' Ball"

• Unit: 303BG/359BS

• Target: U-Boat pens, Saint-Nazaire, France

• Outcome: Returned to Base (RTB) OK

Mission #2

• Date: 23 November 1942

• Aircraft: B-17F 41-24609 "Holy Mackerel"

• Unit: 303BG/359BS

• Target: U-Boat pens, Saint-Nazaire, France

• Outcome: RTB OK

Mission #3

• Date: 12 December 1942

• Aircraft: B-17F 41-24569 "Memphis Tot"

• Unit: 303BG/427BS

• Target: Railroad marshalling yards, Rouen, France

• Outcome: RTB OK

Mission #4

• Date: 30 December 1942

• Aircraft: B-17F 41-24609 "Holy Mackerel"

• Unit: 303BG/359BS

• Target: U-Boat pens, Lorient, France

• Outcome: Aborted due to mechanical failures

Mission #5

• Date: 23 January 1943

• Aircraft: B-17F 41-24610 "JoeBTFSPLK"

• Unit: 303BG/427BS

• Target: U-Boat pens, Lorient, France

• Outcome: RTB OK

Mission #6

• Date: 16 February 1943

• Aircraft: B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer"

• Unit: 303BG/360BS

• Target: U-Boat pens, Saint-Nazaire, France

• Outcome: Aborted due to mechanical failures; RTB OK

Mission #7

• Date: 4 March 1943

• Aircraft: B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer"

• Unit: 303BG/360BS

• Target: Railroad marshalling yards, Rotterdam, Netherlands

• Outcome: RTB OK

Mission #8

• Date: 18 March 1943

• Aircraft: B-17F 41-24619 "S-for-Sugar"

• Unit: 303BG/427BS

• Target: U-Boat construction yards, Bremen-Vegesack, Bremen, Germany

• Outcome: RTB OK

Mission #9

• Date: 25 June 1943

• Aircraft: B-17

• Target: Bremen, Germany

Mission #10

• Date: 16 August 1943

• Aircraft: B-17

• Target: Le Bourget, France

Mission #11

• Date: 6 September 1943

• Aircraft: B-17

• Target: Achern, near Strasbourg, Germany

Mission #12

• Date: 9 September 1943

• Aircraft: B-17

• Target: Lille, France

Mission #13

• Date: 2 October 1943

• Aircraft: B-17

• Target: Emden, Germany

Mission #14

• Date: 12 December 1943

• Aircraft: B-17

• Target: Emden, Germany

Mission #15

• Date: 24 December 1943

• Aircraft: B-17

• Target: Rocket gun sites in Pas de Calais area, France (Designated #94 and #51)

Mission #16

• Date: 11 January 1944

• Aircraft: B-17

• Target: Aircraft component plant, Halberstad, Germany

Mission #17

• Date: 22 April 1944

• Aircraft: B-17

• Target: Hamm marshaling yards, Germany

Mission #18

• Date: 31 May 1944

• Aircraft: B-17

• Target: Liege, Belgium

Mission #19

• Date: 5 September 1944

• Aircraft: B-17

• Target: Ludwigshagen chemical plant, Germany