Captain Robert Langdon Ferguson

Our Hometown Heroes

Robert Langdon Ferguson

United States Military Academy Class of 1942

Robert Langdon Ferguson was a graduate of the United States Military Academy in 1942. He is a true American Hero in every way. Not only did he serve and die for his country during World War II, his determination and grit to get the job done, is without question.

Ferguson’s connection to Griffin and Spalding County is via his wife’s family, the Chunn family. The Chunns’ were well known in Griffin and owned a dry good business back at that time. Capt. Ferguson’s father was a salesman of such dry goods and fertilizer and may have had sales with the Griffin store.

The following was taken from www.westpointaog.org:
(Minor corrections have been made for clarity)

Robert Langdon Ferguson was born in West Point, Georgia, June 21, 1918, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson Drew Ferguson. After high school graduation, he attended Marion Military Institute in Alabama for one year.

Failing to receive the principal appointment for West Point, Ferguson enlisted in the Regular Army at the age of 18, asked for service in Honolulu, and at once entered the West Point Preparatory School at Schofield Barracks. It was here, after nine months training, that by competitive examination he won the Army appointment; at the same time, he also received a Senatorial appointment (to West Point Military Academy). In July, 1938, Ferguson entered the Academy.

Although the Infantry was his first preference. Bob finally chose to try for Air Corps Wings, as a fighter pilot. After graduation from West Point Ferguson successfully completed training in the Air Corps at Ocala, Florida, Greeneville, Mississippi and Craig Field in Selma, Alabama. On the 12th December,1942 he married Miss Jean Andrews, of Marlon, Ohio, whom he had met during furlough. On the 13th December 1942, Ferguson was awarded his Silver Wings at Craig Field.

Remaining at Craig Field for Fighter Transition Training, Bob received his promotion to First Lieutenant in January 1943. His next assignment was at A.A.F.S.A.T in Orlando. He was then sent to the Army Air Base in Richmond, Virginia, with the 325th Fighter Squadron, flying the P-47 Thunderbolt. The 325th was part of the Parent Group at Richmond which trained and activated groups for overseas duty.

Ferguson was made Operations Officer of the 325th Squadron and, in August, 1943, and quickly promoted to Captain. In September, 1943, the 325th was sent as a separate unit to Millville, New Jersey for east coast defense duty. He joined the 366th Fighter Group, commanded by Colonel Dyke Myer. This Group was then sent overseas to England, December 17, 1943.
Capt. Ferguson was Operations Officer of the 391st Fighter Squadron in the Group, after their arrival in England. He was Acting Squadron Commander.

Ferguson’s last mission was on April 5, 1944—less than three months after their arrival. The flight had taken off when the fog rolled in obscuring the flight field. The mission was called off and the pilots told to land wherever they could. Bob and his wing man, Lt. John Whitten, crashed near the English coast in a never-to-be-explained mid-air collision.

He was given a full military burial at Brookwood American Military Cemetery, near London. Later his body would be re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, in 1949.

Captain Ferguson’s Air Medal was presented posthumously to his wife Jean. She would soon depart for overseas duty to serve with the American Red Cross toward the end of World War II.

A plaque will be installed in Griffin honoring Captain Ferguson.