A Colt Model M .380 pistol issued to Brigadier General Robert Scott
Israel, Jr. - On August 17, 1944, he was appointed to the rank of Brigadier General and was
presented his Colt 1908 .380 caliber sidearm, serial number 136169. This gun is complete with the original box (numbered
to the gun), spare magazines, instruction sheet and holster.
Also owned by General Israel was a Walther PPK 7.65 commercial production
pistol from 1937.
Brigadier General Robert
Scott Israel, Jr.
(July 27, 1907 - February 13, 1998)
Robert
Scott Israel Jr. was born in San Antonio, Texas in 27 July 1907. He was
admitted to the United States Military Academy on 28 July 1924.
His years at West Point were a time of achievement and
dedication and were spent working steadily and conscientiously. In
addition to preparing his studies, Cadet Israel participated in
extracurricular activities. Cadet Israel graduated on the 126th
anniversary of the founding of the United States Military Academy. He
received his diploma from Major general William R. Smith, Superintendent of
the Military Academy. The graduation address was given by the
Assistant Secretary of War, the Honorable Charles B. Robbins.
Upon graduation from the U.S. Military Academy in 1928
and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery.
After graduating from the Air Force Flying School in
1929, General Israel served as commanding officer of the First Pursuit Group
and Los Angeles Air Defense Wing in California. Then, as commanding officer
of the Third Air Defense Wing at Mitchel Field, N.Y., he was transferred
overseas to North Africa in February 1943. The next two years General Israel
commanded the 62nd Fighter Wing in Sicily and Italy, where he participated
in the battle campaigns of Tunisia, Sicily, the Po Valley, Naples-Foggia,
Rome Arno, the North Appennines and Sicilian amphibious operations.
Completing the Command and General Staff School in
1946, the general was then assigned duty with the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Washington, D.C.
For a short period in 1951 General Israel served with
the Fifth Air Force in Korea, participating in the Communist Chinese Spring
Offensive. After that he was
successively the vice commander of the 314th Air Division, commanding
general of the 41st Air Division and vice commander of the Japan Air Defense
Force within the Far East Air Forces, Japan.
Joining the Air Defense Command on May 1, 1953, General
Israel became commander of the 32nd Air Division (Defense) at Syracuse Air
Force Station, Syracuse, N.Y., with additional duty on Jan. 15, 1957 as
commander of the 32nd Continental Air Defense Division, also at Syracuse.
His decorations include the Bronze Star, Legion of
Merit with oak leaf cluster, Order of the Southern Cross from Brazil,
British Royal Warrant of Appointment and the Republic of Korea Presidential
Unit Citation. He is a command pilot.
PROMOTIONS
General Israel received the following promotions throughout his
military career:
Promotions
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Temporary (AUS)
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Permanent (RA)
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2nd
Lt
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9 June 1928
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1st
Lt
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8 December 1933
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Captain
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9 September 1940
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15 March 1935
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Major
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31 January 1941
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Lt.
Colonel
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1 February 1942
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1 July 1948
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Colonel
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28 February 1944
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Brig.
General
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17 August 1944
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Colonel
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2 April 1948
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Brig.
General
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1955
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In 1955, he was appointed to the rank of Brigadier General.
He was presented his Colt 1908 .380 caliber sidearm, serial number 136169
on August 17, 1944.
ISRAEL,
ROBERT SCOTT, JR Papers. (1914-1958)
(1 cu ft, Call No. 168.7205, IRIS Nos. 1066330-1066375)
(1907-1998). Brigadier General. USAF, 1928-1958. Born 27 July 1907,
San Antonio, TX. BS, United States Military Academy, 1928. Air Corps
Tactical School, 1939; Command and Staff College, 1946; National War
College, 1949. Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery, June 1928;
began duty in Air Corps, September 1928. Career assignments include: various
duties as company and field grade officer, 1928-1941; Commanding Officer,
1st Pursuit Group and Los Angeles Defense Wing, 1942; Commanding Officer,
3rd Air Defense Wing, 1942-1943; Commanding General, XXII Tactical Air
Command, 1945; Student, Command and Staff College, 1946; Staff Officer,
Directorate of Plans and Organization, HQ USAF, 1947-1948; Student, National
War College, 1949; Commander, 26th Air Division, 1949-1950; Deputy for
Operations, Western Air Defense Force, 1950; Staff Officer, HQ Far East Air
Forces, 1950-1951; Vice Commander, Fifth Air Force, 1951; Vice Commander,
314th Air Division, 1951-1952; Vice Commander, Japan Air Defense Force,
1952; Deputy Commander and then Commander, 32nd Air Division and Commander,
32nd Continental Air Defense Division, 1952-1958. Retired 31 July 1958. Holder
of World Air Speed Record, 1941 (accomplished in P-38).
Personal and official papers relating to Israel’s Air Force career.
Includes personal and official correspondence (1945-1957), and a diary of
the history of the 62nd Fighter Wing (1942-1945). Also includes published
histories of the following units: 64th Fighter Wing (1942-1945), 350th
Fighter Group, Mediterranean Campaign (1942-1945), 82nd Fighter Control
Squadron (1942-1945), and a yearbook of the 32nd Air Defense Division
(1955). Contains several photographs covering Israel’s career, from his
time at USMA to his promotion to Brigadier General in 1955, to include a
picture taken with Eddie Rickenbacker in 1942. Also contains several
documents relating to Israel’s days at USMA including Official Register of
Officers and Cadets (1928), USMA Information on Appointment and Admission
(1928) and copies of Bugle Notes (1924-1928), as well as news clippings and
the program of his graduation (1928). Includes other miscellaneous
memorabilia relating to Israel’s earlier flying days (1929-1945). Also
contains personnel records, including flying records (1929-1958), pilot
books (1928-1931), various assignment orders, completion certificates
(1928-1957) and letters of appreciation and awards (1943-1949).
Related materials located elsewhere in the Document Collection, Air
Force Historical Research Agency, include a briefing on the Twentieth Air
Force prepared by then Colonel Israel and staff in 1948 (760.04-3).
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