Date of birth:

1907 (Washington/Indiana, United States)

Date of death:

June 3rd, 1974

Nationality:

American

Robert A. Winston was born in 1907 in Washington, Indiana. In 1930 he graduated from the Indiana University. After his graduation he first started working with the New York Times and New York News until 1935. In August 1935 he joined the US Navy as Naval Cadet at the Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. He completed his training course at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida.
In 1937 he qualified for decklandings on the U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-3) and then was assigned to Fighter Suqdron 1 on the U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2), flying the F4B-4 Biplane in the Pacific. Some time later he was assigned to Fighter Squadron 6 which flew with the Grumman F3F-2 Biplane from the U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6). In 1938 he was again assigned to Pensacola NAS, this time as an instructor. He went over to the Naval Reserves in 1939.

In February and March 1940, Winston was test pilot with Brewster Aircraft Company, based in the Saab Facotry Sweden for the transfer of 44 Brewster Buffalo planes to Finland. Here he met his future wife in Stockholm. After the job was done in Sweden he went to Belgium for the transfer of another batch of Buffalo's to the Belgian Air Force. Before he could start with the work, Germany invaded Belgium and Robert Winston and the Brewster workers fled to Paris. When the Germans neared Paris he fled through France, Spain and Portugal and from there with a Pan Am plane to New York again.
Back in the States he was reactivated in active service as a Lieutenant (junior grade) as Fligth Training Officer at Pensacola NAS and Corpus Christi NAS. He was transferred to the Navy Department's Bureau of Aeronautics in Washington DC in 1941 and became the Director of Naval Public Relations.
As soon as the war started on 7th December 1941, Winston requested to be transferred to active duty. After a refreshment course in Jacksonville, Florida and training as an Air Group Executive Officer, he was ordered to NAS Atlantic City as Lieutenant Commander and appointed Commanding Officer of the newly formed Fighting Squadron 31, where he arrived on 1st May 1943. After training on the new Grumman F6F Hellcat, and embarked on U.S.S. Cabot. On 29th June 1944 he was ordered back to Washington DC and was promoted to Commander and appointed to the Navy Department in the Aviation Training Division. In June 1945 he was transferred to the Advanced Headquarters of Admiral Nimitz in Guam.

During his tour, Robert winston shot down five enemy aircraft in the following engagements:
- 1 victory: 29th January 1944, Kwajalein;
- 3 victories: 30th March 1944, Palau;
- 1 victory: 19th June 1944, Marianas Turkey Shoot.

When the war was over, Robert Winston was assigned as Naval Air Attaché in Sweden until 1948. Back in the States he served as Director of Public Relations with the Navy Department and with the CIA until his retirement in 1950 with the rank of Captain.
Between 1955 and 1958 he worked as a Manager with the Corporate Press Relations of General Foods. Between 1958 and 1967 he served as President and Publisher of Freedom Press in New York and until 1974 as President of Fargo Press.
Robert A. winston passed awar on 3rd June 1974.

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• Photo: U.S. Navy photo
  
• - Air Group 31
  - Fighter Tactics Academy