Robert Ervin HAIRSTON

HAIRSTON.org ID#2215, b. 2 August 1921, d. 21 March 1991
Father*George William HAIRSTON Jr. b. 3 Aug 1890, d. 10 Mar 1976
Mother*Mary Corine PATTY1 b. 18 Aug 1901, d. 23 Oct 1968
Birth*Robert was born on 2 August 1921 in the Patty home, Macon, Noxubee, Mississippi. The house was built in 1868 and is located on South Washington St.1,2

 
Robert Ervin HAIRSTON was the son of George William HAIRSTON Jr. and Mary Corine PATTY.1 
Census 1930Robert Ervin HAIRSTON appeared on the 1930 census of George William HAIRSTON Jr. on 29 April 1930 in Main Street, Crawford, Lowndes, Mississippi; Lists: George W. Jr 38, Corine P. 28, Robert E. 8, George W. III 3 8/12 and owns a home valued at $2,500 and has a radio.3
EducationHe enrolled in Columbia Military Academy (Columbia, Tennessee) in 1936 and graduated on 31 May 1938. Robert then went to the University of Alabama (1938-39) and then to Mississippi State (1939-41). He was a member of Kappa Alpha. Like thousnds of other Americans, he interrupted his education when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and enlisted in the military.
Census 1940Robert Ervin HAIRSTON appeared on the 1940 census of George William HAIRSTON Jr. on 3 April 1940 in Crawford, Lowndes, Mississippi.4
AnecdoteRobert obtained his private pilots license at Southern Air Service in Memphis, Tennessee with a solo flight in a Piper J-3 Cub on 14 June 1941. Bob Hairston was accepted in the Advanced Acrobatics class at Southern Air Services after he graduated from the C. P. T. P. (Civilian Pilot Training Program) primary class. - The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn., Monday, June 16, 1941, page 2.
And on July 15, 1941, at the Peabody Hotel Roof in Memphis, Bob Hairston and Martha Earp attended the Kappa Alpha Fraternity Summer Dance. - The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn., Tuesday, July 15, 1941, page 8. 
Military


Like many other Americans in their 20s, Robert enlisted as an Aviation Cadet on 16 December 1941 at Jackson, Mississippi. After flight training he became a B-24 bomber pilot.

He was assigned to the 308th Bombardment Group of the Fourteeth Air Force in China, Burma and India. Capt. Robert E. Hairston flew 88 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.


The photograph below was taken on 21 January 1943 at Morrison Field, Palm Beach, Florida before their departure to China. The B-24D bomber was "Axis Nightmare" 41-24138, of the 373 Squadron of the 308 Bomber Group, 14th Army Air Corp. The crew (standing left to right): Roy E. Tooman, 1Lt, Pilot - Robert Hairston, 2Lt, Copilot - James F. Nolan, 2Lt, Bombardier - Marvin J. Silvershatz, 2Lt, Navigator - (kneeling) James L. Whited, SSgt, Engineer - Robert T. Tertell, SSgt, Radio - Charles B. Hertzberg, Sgt, Asst Engineer - George C. Little, Sgt, Asst Radio.

Their trip to Yangkai, China left Morrison Field, Florida on 16 February 1943 and arrived at Yangkai, China on 20 March 1943. That was 73 hours, 50 minutes of flying time over a period of 31 days, with the longest single flight of 9 hour and 15 minutes. On the trip the plane was loaded with spare parts and a passenger, Capt. John S. Syzmkowicz. The flight took them to Borinqueen Field, Puerto Rico - Atkinson Field, Georgetown, British Guiana - Belem, Brazil - Natal, Brazil - Wideawake Field, Ascension Island - Accra, Ghana - Maiduguri, Nigeria - Khartoum, Sudan - Aden, Arabia - Salala, Arabia - Karachi, India - Agra, India - Chakulia Airfield, India - Yangkai, China.



Below is the "Flying Tigers Blood Chit" that was sewn on the back of Capt. Robert Hairston's flight jacket during the war.



Below is a Burma Roadster signed by members of other air crews on 20 March 1943 in China. An "X" was added next to a name when that individual was listed missing or killed. Sometimes the missing crewmen survived and returned to the base days or weeks later.



Below is "Axis Nightmare", B-24D (41-24138). After 44 missions in Axis Nightmare, Capt. Robert Hairston transferred to the 375th Bomb Squadron as a pilot in July 1943. He flew an additonal 44 missions in various B-24s while in the 375th Bomb Squadron.5

ChinaOn 22 May 1944, Capt. Robert E. Hairston and his crew (1st Lt. James J. Detor, 1st Lt. Arthur Nagel, 1st Lt. Abraham D. Feldman, T/Sgt. George M. Amidon, M/Sgt. Arthur M. Harris, S/Sgt. Robert S. Gray, S/Sgt. James L. Byrne, S/Sgt. Robert E. Davenport and Sgt. Earl T. Bates) were ordered to return to the United States thru Air Gateway Miami Beach, Florida. By command of Major General Chennault.
Photo
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WWII Photo Album - 373rd Sqaudron, 308th Bomb Group, 14th Air Force
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Marriage*Robert Ervin HAIRSTON married Eleanor Joy SHELBY, daughter of Louis Coffman SHELBY and Stacie Beatrice SMITH, on 12 December 1946. 
EducationRobert Hairston graduated from the School of Business and Industry, Commercial Aviation, Mississippi State University on January 12, 1948.

 
EnglandStationed in England - On 6 November 1950, Capt. Hairston traveled to Southampton, England on the USAT (US Army Transport) General Alexander M Patch to start work at the Weather Station, Sculthorpe Royal Air Force Base, Norfolk, England. A few months later, his wife Joy, along with 2 kids and her mother, drove a new 4 door Packard from Memphis to New York. Then on 2 March 1951, Robert's wife and children, along with the new Packard car, sailed from New York to Southampton, England on the USAT (US Army Transport) General Maurice Rose to join him.

Meeting the Pope - On 15 September 1952 Robert Hairston personally met and shook hands with his Holiness Pope Pius XII at his summer home at Castel Gandolpho near Rome, Italy. He piloted a group of officers and airmen from Sculthorpe RAF Base to Italy for a private meeting with the Pope . The trip was authorized by the Base Commander, Col. David M. Jones (a Doolittle raider and german POW. Col. Jones lived across the street from Capt. Hairston at RAF Sculthorpe).

Return to United States - On 12 November 1953, Capt. Robert Hairston and family returned to New York on the SS United States after leaving Southampton, England on 7 November.
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ColoradoContinental Air Defense Command (CONAD) - Maj. Robert Hairston was stationed at Ent Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado from 1954 to 1957.
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BermudaHurricane Hunter Bermuda - From 1957 to 1960 he was Aircraft Commander/Operations Officer for the 59th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flying the WB-50 of the famous "Air Force Hurricane Hunters" out of Kindley AFB, Bermuda. Below is a WB-50 Air Force Hurricane Hunter at Kindley AFB.

 
NewspaperCommand Pilot - Major Robert E. Hairston became 59th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron's first rated Command Pilot last month. The distinction he earned is the Air Force's highest aeronautical rating and is granted active senior AF pilots having the required qualifications. Under current regulations, a Command Pilot earns those wings after completeing 15 years of service as an heavier-than-air aircraft pilot and after completeing 3,000 hours of flying time as a pilot or co-pilot. He also must hold a green instrument card signifying above-average proficiency in instrument flying. All of this Major Hairston has done. He also holds two Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals. The new Command Pilot hails from Crawford, Miss. He and his wife Joy, and two children reside off base. -- The Bermuda Skyliner, Friday, Sept. 13th, 1957. The Bermuda Skyliner was an unoffical newspaper published by the Bermuda Mid-Ocean News for the personnel at Kindley Air Force Base.
Psgr ListReturn to United States - On 13 July 1960, Robert and his family returned to the United States aboard the British ship S.S. Queen of Bermuda after he was stationed at Kindley Air Force Base for three years. 
Military Lt. Col. Robert E. Hairston retired from the U.S. Air Force after 22 years of service on 1 July 1966 - Command Pilot - Distinguished Flying Cross w/oak leaf cluster - Air Medal w/oak leaf cluster - Presidential Unit Citation - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal w/2 bronze stars & 1 China star - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Reserve Medal - Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award - Republic of China WWII Service Medal - Air Force Oustanding Unit - Air Force Longevity Award - Professional Member American Meteorological Society. 
BiographyCHIEF, AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE COORDINATION ALL HURRICANES - CARCAH
Born in Macon, Mississippi in 1921, and reared on a nearby plantation. Graduated from prep school at Columbia Military Academy, Columbia, Tennessee, and completed two years at Mississippi State University before being disrupted by World War II.
Entered the Army Air Corp as a Flying cadet in 1941 and flew eighty-eight combat missions as a B-24 Aircraft Commander in China during WWII, including frequent sorties over the "HUMP" to India to replenish fuel and bombs. Returned to college and finally graduated in 1948.
Attended the Air Force Weather Forecaster's School, Chanute AFB, Illinois, in 1948 and served in various Weather Officer/Detachment Commander positions; Columbus AFB, Barksdale AFB, Sculthorpe, England, and Ent AFB; flying C-47s, B-25s, and T-33s during leasure time. From 1957 through 1960 was Aircraft Commander/Operations Officer of the 59th Weather Reconnaissance squadron (later the 53rd WRS) flying WB-50s of the famous "AIR FORCE HURRICANE HUNTERS" in Bermuda.
In 1960 assigned to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, as the Air Force Hurricane Liaison Officer (AFHLO), and held that position until retiring from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1966 to accept the present Department of Air Force (DAF) Civil Service position as Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination All Hurricanes (CARCAH) at the National Hurricane Center.
During second tour in college, married Joy Shelby of Memphis, Tennessee, who was teaching ballet at Mississippi State College for Women (a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette).....
Professional organizations; American Meteorologioal Society, Daedalians, Sons of the American Revolution, The Retired 0fficer's Association.
Now anticipating a second retirement New Years Eve 1983 after 42 years and 15 days of active, reserve and civilian Air Force service."
Biographical sketch written by Lt.Col. Robert E. Hairston in 1983. 
Death*Robert Ervin HAIRSTON died on 21 March 1991 in Miami, Dade, Florida, at age 69.2 
Burial*He was buried in Oaklimb Cemetery, Crawford, Lowndes, Mississippi.6

 

Family

Eleanor Joy SHELBY b. 27 Aug 1927, d. 21 May 2019
ChartsDescendant Chart
Descendant Chart Box

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S92] Birth Certificate.
  2. [S51] Death Certificate.
  3. [S1930] 1930 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  4. [S1940] 1940 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  5. [S3464] Glines, Carroll V., Chennault's Forgotten Warriors, The Saga of the 308th Bomb Group in China, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1995, Personal Collection - printed book.
  6. [S13] Oaklimb Cemetery, Crawford, Lowndes County, MS.
Last Edited12 May 2025