Downtown in Asheville in Buncombe County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
In Remembrance of Col. Robert K. Morgan
Photographed by Dave W, July 3, 2022
1. In Remembrance of Col. Robert K. Morgan Monument
Colonel Robert K. Morgan and his B-17 bomber crew of WWII's "Memphis Belle" were the first to complete twenty-five combat missions over German-occupied Europe. At a time when bomber casualties reached eighty percent, their exceptional achievement was celebrated in a subsequent home front war bond tour. At this site, on August 14, 1943, Col. Morgan made a low pass over Pack Square, tipped his left wing sixty degrees, and flew between the Buncombe County Courthouse and the Asheville City Hall buildings. The contributions and example of Ashevilles native son and his crew are hereby honored. The courage and spirit of this accomplished pilot and the men and women of his generation who fought in WWII are summed in Col. Morgan's oft declaration "I was just doing my job."
John 12:46
Erected 2014 by City of Asheville.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Notable Events • War, World II.
Location. 35° 35.742′ N, 82° 32.921′ W. Memorial is in Asheville, North Carolina, in Buncombe County. It is in Downtown. It is on Court
this page online
Regionally, this memorial is in North Carolina’s Mountains. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Buncombe County Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); Confederate Armory (within shouting distance of this marker); Ashe Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Stephens - Lee H.S. Educates Legends and Heroes
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 17, 2025
2. In Rememberance of Col. Robert K. Morgan Monument
Also see . . . Commemorative Landscapes Database Entry for this Monument. Excerpt:
Controversies: The Lt. Col. Robert K. Morgan memorial is a part of the city of Asheville public art collection and the bible verse engraved at the bottom was not a part of the approved design. The city has with limited success tried to apply [dark] paint to the engraved verse, restoring the piece of art to its original design. Someone in the public continues to paint the inscription [white] so that it is visible.(Submitted on December 1, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)
The actual verse, which states, I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness, was Morgans favorite verse ...
Photographed by Dave W, July 3, 2022
3. Close Up of the Artwork on Monument
Image by David Lee Sample.
Image via the American Air Museum in Britain (CC BY-NC 4.0)
4. Major (then Captain) Robert K. Morgan
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A06253-I24147AC
Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 29, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 617 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 29, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. 2. submitted on June 1, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on January 29, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. 4. submitted on June 1, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. The name of the artist who created the image on the monument • Can you help?
