Boiling Springs in Spartanburg County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Robin Helton
Photographed By James Stickley, April 18, 2019
1. Robin Helton Marker
U.S. Marine A-4 Skyhawk
Oct. 29, 1985
In memory of the pilot
1st Lt. Robin Franklin
Helton
Sept. 13, 1955
Oct. 29, 1985
son of
McDonald & Kathryn Helton
husband of
Connie Swann Helton
father of
Robyn L. Helton
Donated by John Brown Memorials
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Military. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1892.
Location. 35° 1.331′ N, 81° 57.666′ W. Marker is in Boiling Springs, South Carolina, in Spartanburg County. Marker is on Robin Helton Drive, 0.1 miles east of Boiling Springs Road (South Carolina Highway 9), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Boiling Springs SC 29316, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Boiling Springs Veterans Monument (approx. 2.2 miles away); Boiling Springs, South Carolina (approx. 2.2 miles away); Hearon Circle (approx. 2.7 miles away); Peach Monument (approx. 3.9 miles away); "Sparky" the Family Train (approx. 3.9 miles away); Berlin Wall (approx. 4.1 miles away); Jesse Cleveland (approx. 4.3 miles away); Dr. Jesse F. Cleveland Junior High School
this page online
Also see . . . Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. (Submitted on February 13, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
Additional commentary.
1. Boiling Springs Treasures the Sacrifice and the Legacy of Marine Pilot
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Robin Franklin Helton was dedicated to serving his country. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at an early age and served in several places including Korea. He was honorably discharged and went to college. When the West Virginia native graduated from Marshall University, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines to become an officer and a pilot.
1st Lt. Helton was flying his A-4 Skyhawk jet over Spartanburg County on October 29, 1985, when he lost oxygen. It may have been because of a faulty hose in the oxygen/communications system of the aircraft.
The Navy
Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, November 18, 2010
2. Robin Helton Marker (1986)
The 30-year-old Marine pilot lost consciousness and crashed into the woods outside Boiling Springs. He left behind his young wife and baby daughter, his parents and other family members.
The community where he crashed made sure they would never mourn alone.
From the beginning, the people of Boiling Springs have embraced the Helton family and kept the memory of Robin Helton’s service and sacrifice alive. It’s a record for which the community should be proud.
In the first six months after Helton’s crash, his family received more than 1,500 cards and letters from Spartanburg County residents. They even received a package with two dresses for the baby. “We can’t believe that people who don’t know you can care as much as the people here have shown they do,” Helton’s sister said at the time.
The community erected a monument to Helton at the crash site and invited his family to the dedication. “The people here are unbelievable. They didn’t know him, but it is as if they did,” Helton’s widow, Connie, said at the time.
The monument was struck by vandals more than once. The community repaired it. When the remote area of the crash became a subdivision, a street was named
Photographed By James Stickley, April 18, 2019
3. Robin Helton Marker
Last week, a new memorial was dedicated to Robin Helton, one that should be less prone to damage. His family was here to renew their acquaintance with Spartanburg County residents.
His family should be proud of 1st Lt. Helton, his service, his sacrifice and his legacy.
Spartanburg County, and Boiling Springs in particular, should be proud of the way they responded to this accident. The community could have shrugged off the crash and gone its way, leaving the Heltons to deal with their personal tragedy on their own. But the people of Boiling Springs made a connection with the pilot’s family, encouraged them, and preserved Helton’s legacy.
— Submitted February 13, 2011, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, November 18, 2010
4. Robin Helton Marker (2010)
New marker next to the older one. The information is mostly the same.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 2,372 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 18, 2019, by James Stickley of Campobello, South Carolina. 2. submitted on November 18, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. 3. submitted on April 18, 2019, by James Stickley of Campobello, South Carolina. 4. submitted on November 18, 2010, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
