Albany in Shackelford County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Lt. General Robert Boyd Williams
1901 - 1977
Photographed By Duane Hall, June 27, 2015
1. Lt. General Robert Boyd Williams Marker
Inscription.
Lt. General Robert Boyd Williams. The highest ranking serviceman from Shackelford County during World War II, Robert Williams was a native of Albany. After attending schools here, he graduated from Texas A&M in 1923 with a degree in Civil Engineering and a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He entered the Air Corps, which then was just a branch of the Army. Williams played an important role in the development of heavy bombers, particularly the 4 engined Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. He participated in goodwill mission flights of six B-17s to Brazil in 1938 and to Argentina in 1939 to prove the long range capability of this bomber. In 1940, he was sent to London as an American military observer of heavy air bombardment where he lost an eye when his apartment was struck by a German bomb during the Blitz. When America entered the war, the U.S. 8th Air Force was organized in England into three divisions. Major General Robert Williams was commander of the 1st Bombardment Division while Major General Curtis LeMay was in command of the 3rd Division. They were equipped with B-17s. Under their directions, the 8th Air Force quickly enlarged and soon was launching thousand plane raids against Germany. General Robert Williams personally led the famous Schweinfurt ball bearing plant raid on August 17, 1943, flying in a B-17 named “Lady Luck.” Schweinfurt was the most important target to that date for the 8th Air Force. Williams received the Distinguished Service Cross for this mission. He later flew on raids to Hamburg, Gelsenkirchen and Watten Germany. On the latter, his plane received major battle damage. After world war two, Gen. Williams returned to the U.S. He served in high positions in the Air Force until retiring in the mid 1950s to San Antonio where he died in 1977. General Williams, along with his cohort General Curtis LeMay, were leaders in the development of the heavy bombardment ability of the U.S. Air Force that helped defeat Germany and Japan in world war two.
The highest ranking serviceman from Shackelford County during World War II, Robert Williams was a native of Albany. After attending schools here, he graduated from Texas A&M in 1923 with a degree in Civil Engineering and a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He entered the Air Corps, which then was just a branch of the Army. Williams played an important role in the development of heavy bombers, particularly the 4 engined Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. He participated in goodwill mission flights of six B-17s to Brazil in 1938 and to Argentina in 1939 to prove the long range capability of this bomber. In 1940, he was sent to London as an American military observer of heavy air bombardment where he lost an eye when his apartment was struck by a German bomb during the Blitz. When America entered the war, the U.S. 8th Air Force was organized in England into three divisions. Major General Robert Williams was commander of the 1st Bombardment Division while Major General Curtis LeMay was in command of the 3rd Division. They were equipped with B-17s. Under their directions, the 8th Air Force quickly enlarged and soon was launching thousand plane raids against Germany. General Robert Williams personally led the famous Schweinfurt ball bearing plant raid on August 17, 1943, flying in a B-17 named “Lady Luck.” Schweinfurt was the most important
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target to that date for the 8th Air Force. Williams received the Distinguished Service Cross for this mission. He later flew on raids to Hamburg, Gelsenkirchen and Watten Germany. On the latter, his plane received major battle damage. After WW II, Gen. Williams returned to the U.S. He served in high positions in the Air Force until retiring in the mid 1950s to San Antonio where he died in 1977. General Williams, along with his cohort General Curtis LeMay, were leaders in the development of the heavy bombardment ability of the U.S. Air Force that helped defeat Germany and Japan in WW II.
Erected 2006.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.
Location. 32° 43.388′ N, 99° 17.811′ W. Marker is in Albany, Texas, in Shackelford County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of S. 2nd Street (State Highway 6) and S. Main Street (U.S. 283), on the right when traveling east. Marker is located in the northwest corner of the grounds of the Shackelford County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 225 S Main St, Albany TX 76430, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The marker is part of the Albany Heroes' Monument created by Duke Sundt. The monument includes bas relief portraits and biographical tablets for Lt. General Robert Boyd Williams, Lt. Colonel William Edwin Dyess, and Rear Admiral Emory Arden Grantham.
3. Soldiers and Sailors Markers at Shackelford County Courthouse Grounds
Photographed By Duane Hall, June 27, 2015
4. Shackelford County Courthouse
Marker is in northwest corner of the courthouse grounds
Photographed By Duane Hall, June 27, 2015
5. View to Northwest towards Intersection of S. Main Street (US 283) and S. 2nd Street (SH 6)
Photographed By Duane Hall, June 27, 2015
6. Courthouse Grounds
View to southeast across S. 2nd Street
Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 557 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 16, 2015, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.