Includes:
1. Distinguished Flying Cross: in bronze gilt, engraved "S. SGT. WILLIAM F. ROBERTSON III A C" on the reverse, measuring 43.7 mm (w) x 47.5 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, original ribbon with brooch pinback. Accompanied by its 36 mm (w) x 10 mm (h) Ribbon Bar with ribbon swatch attached and its 17 mm (w) x 3.5 mm (h) Enameled Lapel Ribbon Bar, in their hardshelled case of issue, inscribed "DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS" on the lid, enclosed in their cardboard box of issue and addressed on the end panel to his mother.
2. Air Medal with Oak Cluster: in bronze gilt, engraved "S. SGT. WILLIAM F. ROBERTSON III A.C." on the reverse, measuring 42.5 mm (w) x 48.5 mm (h), with one oak cluster affixed to its original ribbon with brooch pinback, a tiny hole in the ribbon where the second oak leaf cluster once resided but has been lost to time. Accompanied by its 35.5 mm (w) x 10.3 mm (h) Ribbon Bar and its 17 mm (w) x 3.7 mm (h) Enameled Lapel Ribbon Bar, in their hardshelled case of issue, inscribed "AIR MEDAL" on the lid, enclosed in their cardboard box of issue, addressed on the end panel to his mother and dated "23 April".
3. Various Letters on Government Letterhead, including his Citations, Presidential Accolade and Burial Information.
4. fifteen letters in envelopes from Staff Sergeant Robertson III and addressed to Miss Audrey Wolfes of Washington, D.C.
5. five black and white photographs:
(i) Staff Sergeant Robertson III in his U.S. Army Air Corps leather jacket, framed and under glass, the matting sunned.
(ii) Group of Twenty Eight Recruits and three Officers taken at the Naval Reserve Air Station at Anacostia, in Washington D.C., dated 1942, with Robertson at the far left in the back row.
(iii) Street Scene with Robertson III in his naval uniform and walking with a woman, hand in hand.
(iv) Street Scene with Robertson III in his naval uniform and walking beside another sailor.
(v) Grave Marker at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, listing the loss of ten airmen in the Army Air Corps on July 28, 1944, including Robertson III. Better than very fine.
Footnote: 13 113 138 Staff Sergeant William F. Robertson III served as an Armorer Gunner with the United States Army Air Corps in the Southwest Pacific area during the Second World War. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. Both the awards were addressed and forwarded to his mother, Mrs. Anna L. Robertson of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Staff Sergeant William F. Robertson III was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions taken on June 8, 1944, his citation stating: "For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight, near *** ***, *** ***, on 8 June 1944, as armorer gunner.
These crew members manned one of the ten B-25's assigned to destroy an enemy naval task force of four destroyers and two cruisers loaded with troops and supplies destined for ***. They sighted the target and, coming in at masthead height through intense anti-aircraft fire, scored near misses on a destroyer damaging the stern. During the run the vessel was also effectively strafed. The formation sank a total of four destroyers in this engagement. The outstanding courage and devotion to duty displayed are worthy of the highest commendation." Staff Sergeant William F. Robertson III was awarded the Air Medal for actions taken between January 28 to March 31, 1944, his citation stating: "For meritorious achievement while participating in sustained operational flight missions from 28 January 1944 to 31 March 1944 in the Southwest Pacific area, during which hostile contact was probable and expected. The courage and devotion to duty displayed during these flights are worthy of commendation."
Later, he was awarded two Oak Leaf Clusters to the Air Medal for actions taken between April 1 and June 30, 1944, his citation stating: "For meritorious achievement while participating in sustained operational flight missions in the Southwest Pacific area from 1 April 1944 to 30 June 1944, during which hostile contact was probable and expected. The courage and devotion to duty displayed during these flights are worthy of commendation." Staff Sergeant William F. Robertson III was a participant in the New Guinea campaign of the Pacific War, which lasted from January 1942 until the end of the war in August 1945. Robertson III was aboard a B-25D Mitchell Bomber 42-87287 with a crew of ten aboard, piloted by 1st Lieutenant Earl D. Spriggs Jr., while on a courier mission from Nadzab, New Guinea, at the east end of the island nation, on July 28, 1944.
The flight was bound for Biak, New Guinea, at the far west end of the island, the flight taking off at 8:45 a.m. It was never seen nor heard from after take off. The plane and the entire crew were declared "Missing in Action". All aboard the flight were later declared "Killed in Action" on July 28, 1944. In addition to Staff Sergeant William F. Robertson III and 1st Lieutenant Earl D. Spriggs Jr., also killed were 1st Lieutenant Fletcher C. Abernathy, Corporal Arthur F. D'Alessandro, 2nd Lieutenant Claude M. Loe Jr., Staff Sergeant Glyn F. Trammell, Chaplain (Captain) Edward F. Bradley, Staff Sergeant Claude L. Green, 1st Lieutenant Charles E. Poland and Staff Sergeant Paul M. Williams. Staff Sergeant William F. Robertson III died on July 28, 1944, at the age of 21. His remains, along with those of the other nine crew members, are interred in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, Section 84, Site 42-44.
In a letter to his parents from the Department of the Army dated July 5, 1951, it states: "A review of the records of your son, the late Staff Sergeant William F. Robertson III, reveals that you have not received the Presidential Accolade. The issuance of an accolade was approved by the President on 16 September 1943 in recognition of the sacrifice made by these soldiers who died in line of duty in the service of their country." In a second letter to his parents from the Department of the Army dated February 26, 1953, in regards to the internment of their son, it states "that because of the fact it was impossible to identify individually the remains of your son, you were deprived of the comfort and consolation which you might have been afforded by interring his remains at home.", the letter accompanied by a large photograph of the Grave Marker at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.