Augustine Warner Robins
Encyclopedia
General Augustine Warner Robins (September 29, 1882 - June 16, 1940) is often credited as the Father of Logistics in the modern United States Air Force
, then known as the Army Air Corps
. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first official and workable Air Force supply maintenance and accountability system, and helped establish official guidelines for the training of logistics officers, NCOs
, and civilians working for the Air Force. He is also the namesake of the city of Warner Robins, Georgia
.
Robins was born in Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia
in 1882. His parents were Col. William Todd Robins, the commander of the 24th Virginia Cavalry in the American Civil War
, and Sally Berkeley Nelson. Robins was named after his grandfather, Augustine Warner (A.W.) Robins. A West Point cadet (1903–07), Robins served under General John Pershing's punitive 1916 expedition into Mexico
against Pancho Villa
. In 1919, he was sent to the Supply Division of the fledgling Air Service at Wright Field
, Ohio, where he spent the next twenty years playing his pivotal role in the development of air-based combat logistics. In 1935, he was promoted to Brigadier General
, one of four in the Army Air Corps at that time, and was given command of the Materiel Division at Wright Field; for the next four years, he would push for increased funding for research and development, as well as key technologies such as B-17s, the Norden bombsight
, and the high-octane gasoline that would later power the carriers of World War II
across the Atlantic and Pacific. In 1939, he was reassigned to the command of the Air Training division in Texas; however, he died from a heart attack in June of the next year. Over a year after his death, the Army Air Corps began to make use of Robins' contributions during its actions in World War II.
The Warner Robins Army Air Depot (now the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center
, or WR-ALC) at Robins Field, later to become Robins Air Force Base
, Georgia, was named in honor of General Robins, and is also a major depot for Air Force logistics in its own right.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, then known as the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first official and workable Air Force supply maintenance and accountability system, and helped establish official guidelines for the training of logistics officers, NCOs
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
, and civilians working for the Air Force. He is also the namesake of the city of Warner Robins, Georgia
Warner Robins, Georgia
Warner Robins is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located primarily in Houston County with a small portion in Peach County. The city has its own metropolitan statistical area . As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 48,804...
.
Robins was born in Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia
Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia
Gloucester Courthouse is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Gloucester County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,269 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gloucester Courthouse is located at ....
in 1882. His parents were Col. William Todd Robins, the commander of the 24th Virginia Cavalry in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and Sally Berkeley Nelson. Robins was named after his grandfather, Augustine Warner (A.W.) Robins. A West Point cadet (1903–07), Robins served under General John Pershing's punitive 1916 expedition into Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
against Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
. In 1919, he was sent to the Supply Division of the fledgling Air Service at Wright Field
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
, Ohio, where he spent the next twenty years playing his pivotal role in the development of air-based combat logistics. In 1935, he was promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
, one of four in the Army Air Corps at that time, and was given command of the Materiel Division at Wright Field; for the next four years, he would push for increased funding for research and development, as well as key technologies such as B-17s, the Norden bombsight
Norden bombsight
The Norden bombsight was a tachometric bombsight used by the United States Army Air Forces and the United States Navy during World War II, and the United States Air Force in the Korean and the Vietnam Wars to aid the crew of bomber aircraft in dropping bombs accurately...
, and the high-octane gasoline that would later power the carriers of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
across the Atlantic and Pacific. In 1939, he was reassigned to the command of the Air Training division in Texas; however, he died from a heart attack in June of the next year. Over a year after his death, the Army Air Corps began to make use of Robins' contributions during its actions in World War II.
The Warner Robins Army Air Depot (now the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center
The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center performs sustainment and depot maintenance on a number of US Air Force weapon systems. Specifically it supports AC-130, C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, E-8 Joint STARS, EC-130, F-15 Eagle, HC-130, HH-60 Pave Hawk, MC-130, MH-53 Pave Low,...
, or WR-ALC) at Robins Field, later to become Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force base located in Houston County, Georgia, United States. The base is located just east of and adjacent to the city of Warner Robins, Georgia, SSE of Macon, Georgia, and about SSE of Atlanta, Georgia...
, Georgia, was named in honor of General Robins, and is also a major depot for Air Force logistics in its own right.