CAPTAIN ROBERT T. LATSHAW

Korean War Ace

By Stephen Sherman, Dec. 2002. Updated July 10, 2011.

Born in St Louis, Missouri - 20 August 1925

Enlisted in the US Army Air Force as a private - 7 July 1943

Completed pilot training and commissioned as a second lieutenant - 26 January 1945

Promoted to Captain - 16 January 1951

Sent to Korea with 335th FSI/4th FIW, flying F-86 Sabre jets - late 1951

Downed a MiG 15 near Pyongyang (his first kill) - 25 January, 1951

Claimed a MiG 15 near Songhyon-dong - 19 March, 1951

Destroyed two more MiGs - April, 1951

Made ace (his fifth aerial victory) by shooting down a MiG near Yangsi - 3 May 1952

Died in flying accident in Venezuela - April, 1956

Aerial Victories: 5 confirmed and 4 damaged

Medals: Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 OLC's and the Air Medal with 5 OLC's

Sources:

Korean War Aces, Robert F. Dorr, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces, 1995