TFH 5/22: Lieutenant Colonel Robert F. Titus, USAF

Robert F. Titus was born on December 6, 1926 in Orange, New Jersey. He studied mining at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and served as an enlisted man in the United States Army in the late 1940s before receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant with the United States Air Force in September 1949.

He flew combat missions during the Korean War and later served as a test pilot in the 1950s. In January 1967, he took command of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing's 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron, then based at Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam.

On this day in 1967, forty-five years ago, then Lieutenant Colonel Titus led his squadron as fighter escorts for strike aircraft during which he avoided multiple surface to air missiles and was personally responsible for shooting down two of the enemy. For his leadership and undaunted courage, he received the Air Force Cross.


From Military Times' Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Robert F. Titus (AFSN: 0-26472), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as an F-4C Mission Commander in the 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, DaNang Air Base, Vietnam, in action near Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 22 May 1967. On that date, Colonel Titus led his flight into one of the most heavily defended areas of North Vietnam in direct support of F-105 strike aircraft operations. Undaunted by accurate flak and five surface-to-air missiles that were launched at his aircraft, he repeatedly and unhesitatingly engaged numerous MiG-21s in defense of the friendly aircraft. During these aggressive and courageous aerial encounters, Colonel Titus destroyed two MiG-21 aircraft. As a direct result of his tenacity and extreme bravery in the face of great danger, the F-105 force was able to accomplish its assigned mission. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Lieutenant Colonel Titus reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

In addition to his Air Force Cross, Titus also was decorated with the Silver Star for bravery in the skies over Vietnam and was a four-time recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired from the Air Force in 1977 as a Brigadier General. I believe that he his still living.

His Vietnam-era units, today known as the 389th Fighter Squadron and the 366th Fighter Wing, still fly in defense of our Nation and liberty from their home station of Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.