Oral History Interview with F. Willard "Robbie" Robinson

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with F. Willard “Robbie” Robinson. Robinson tells the story of Albert K. Earnest. Robinson shares an anecdote of how Earnest came to be in the Navy rather than the Army Air Corps. Earnest completed flight training and received his Naval commission in November 1941. In 1942 he was assigned to Torpedo Squadron 8. He was one of six pilots to volunteer to fly from Hawaii to Midway. He participated in a mission to attack Japanese carriers. Flying a disabled plane, he made a harrowing flight back to Midway where he crash landed. Because Torpedo Squadron 8 sustained heavy losses, it was reorganized and assigned as a USS Saratoga (CV-3) air group. He flew missions to provide cover for the invasion of Guadalcanal. He was also credited with helping to sink the Japanese carrier Ryūjō. While the USS Saratoga's torpedo damage was repaired, he served with Torpedo Group 8 in the Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal. Earnest was sent to Sand Point Naval Air Station when returned to the U.S. in 1942. It was there that Robinson met Earnest. They served together in Composite Squadrons 31 and 7. When the war ended, Earnest continued his military career, retiring with the rank of Captain