Robert "Robbie" Wilson died on March 5th 1982 at the age of 25 serving his country as a Marine Corps AV-8A Harrier pilot. The Harrier was a unique fighter jet capable of taking off and landing vertically like a helicopter but was a very demanding aircraft to fly in the vertical lift configuration. Robbie was training in this regime when he had a landing accident. His jet was attempting to hover very close to the ground over the landing mat but was blown off to the side by cross winds. As his jet drifted sideways off the mat the massive thrust of its engines raised up a dense cloud of dry dirt and dust which quickly obliterated his view. Robbie applied full power to abort the landing and climb above the dust cloud, but, unable to see outside, Robbie could not see that the jet was beginning to tilt the side. At a particular angle of tilt, the thrust of both engines will bounce back off the ground underneath only one side of the plane causing it to flip out of control as the rebounding air columns push up on only one wing. The Harrier is not recoverable from this situation. Robbie recognized the development probably as fast as anyone could. He attempted to eject to safety as trained, but as the plane rolled and began to fall to the ground, his rocket seat was fired sideways rather than upwards. Robbie's parachute was still deploying as he was sent crashing horizontally through a tall stand of pines by the sideways trajectory. He was still alive when transported to the hospital but died hours later due to massive internal injuries.
I know these details because I was a Navy pilot at the time and aside from being good high school buddies, Robbie and I had been in primary flight school at the same time in Pensacola. We stayed in close contact after that, talking several times a year. I was stunned when my father called me to tell me he had heard the news. Through the military grapevine I contacted other Marine buddies whom I knew who gave me the "unpublished" details. This type of accident was very common to the AV-8A Harrier and claimed the lives of about 32 Marine pilots, including Robbie during its brief service period in the 1980s. I had just talked to Robbie only days before by phone. He was joking and bragging about his happiness at being newly married and how his life had recently turned around. He said he had found God through his wife and was looking forward to becoming a much better person than he had seen himself as earlier in life. He was happy and loved the Marine Corps, Flying and his new wife. Robbie is one of our classmates who got to "check out" of life forever young. He perished doing what he loved and attempting to push the limits. His loss had a profound affect on me, as I was also recently married and had just learned my wife was pregnant and though I too was living life on the edge with my hair on fire - his loss shattered my delusion of invincibility. From that point forward I was a step safer, a step more conservative, a step more professional and I got to survive my military career. In the deeply saddest of ways, I thank Robbie for that and remember him always.
Very well stated, JD..... Robbie never did anything halfway or "to just get by"- He was hard nosed on the football field, but a great friend and teammate- He never took a play off, and he demanded the same commitment from every one of us on the field- He played the game w/ a passion that reflects how he approached everything he did- I know that in his service in the military, he gave the same effort and commitment- A true warrior in football, wrestling, and in life- But, a fun loving guy.....check out our senior yearbook, and you'll see a picture of Robbie w/ an arrow through his head- Just loved life, and loved to have fun- May God Bless his family.
JD, That was a nice story and Robbie would have appreciated it. As you said, he had just married and if memory serves me correctly, he married on Valentines Day. I couldn't make the wedding but Robbie and I had a long conversation at my house about the Lord at Christmas just before he got married. He gave his life to Christ somewhere between Young Life and while he was attending Canoe U. The first or second summer after he attended the accademy, we took a trip to Panama City and he drove that beautiful yellow Chevy Vega. He refused to drive over the speed limit becasue it would break the law. It drove me crazy but we finally made it. I have some pictures to post from our Western tour trip and the Panama City trip too. Do you guys remember when Robbie showed up for fall football practice and we couldn't believe how he had bulked up that summer. Robbie could out run me and Zitch during wind sprints and coach Childress would nag at me about it every time. He would say "I know you're loafing Weesner becasue Wilson is out running you" and I would say back to the coach "he is not he's just quicker than I am coach" as we ran another wind sprint for whatever coach could think of next... lol
This is a picture of Robbie when we went to Panama City while he was attending canoe U. If you look closely, Robbie isn't displaying a bird or a peace sign, he is saying "One Way" Jesus Hallelujah!! Also, notice the Naval Accademy sticker on the rear window. He loved that Vega too! Made modifications to it and more. By the way, he totaled it on the way back to the academy a short time later after falling asleep at the wheel. Who would ever guess that Robby would fall asleep driving, If you ever rode with him, and I did many times, there was never a dull moment.
Robbie Wilson was a dear friend and one of the toughest guys I knew during high school. Those who played football with him can testify to that. Robbie as many of us knew him was also smart and dedicated. When I learned of his plane crash in North Carolina I was quite shocked and saddened as I always enjoyed being around him and watching him pull some funny things on people. Another friend who passed way to early in life and makes you realize how fleeting our lives really are. Robbie wilson will always be remembered and will be missed by the many friends he had.
J. D. Webster
Robert "Robbie" Wilson died on March 5th 1982 at the age of 25 serving his country as a Marine Corps AV-8A Harrier pilot. The Harrier was a unique fighter jet capable of taking off and landing vertically like a helicopter but was a very demanding aircraft to fly in the vertical lift configuration. Robbie was training in this regime when he had a landing accident. His jet was attempting to hover very close to the ground over the landing mat but was blown off to the side by cross winds. As his jet drifted sideways off the mat the massive thrust of its engines raised up a dense cloud of dry dirt and dust which quickly obliterated his view. Robbie applied full power to abort the landing and climb above the dust cloud, but, unable to see outside, Robbie could not see that the jet was beginning to tilt the side. At a particular angle of tilt, the thrust of both engines will bounce back off the ground underneath only one side of the plane causing it to flip out of control as the rebounding air columns push up on only one wing. The Harrier is not recoverable from this situation. Robbie recognized the development probably as fast as anyone could. He attempted to eject to safety as trained, but as the plane rolled and began to fall to the ground, his rocket seat was fired sideways rather than upwards. Robbie's parachute was still deploying as he was sent crashing horizontally through a tall stand of pines by the sideways trajectory. He was still alive when transported to the hospital but died hours later due to massive internal injuries.
I know these details because I was a Navy pilot at the time and aside from being good high school buddies, Robbie and I had been in primary flight school at the same time in Pensacola. We stayed in close contact after that, talking several times a year. I was stunned when my father called me to tell me he had heard the news. Through the military grapevine I contacted other Marine buddies whom I knew who gave me the "unpublished" details. This type of accident was very common to the AV-8A Harrier and claimed the lives of about 32 Marine pilots, including Robbie during its brief service period in the 1980s. I had just talked to Robbie only days before by phone. He was joking and bragging about his happiness at being newly married and how his life had recently turned around. He said he had found God through his wife and was looking forward to becoming a much better person than he had seen himself as earlier in life. He was happy and loved the Marine Corps, Flying and his new wife. Robbie is one of our classmates who got to "check out" of life forever young. He perished doing what he loved and attempting to push the limits. His loss had a profound affect on me, as I was also recently married and had just learned my wife was pregnant and though I too was living life on the edge with my hair on fire - his loss shattered my delusion of invincibility. From that point forward I was a step safer, a step more conservative, a step more professional and I got to survive my military career. In the deeply saddest of ways, I thank Robbie for that and remember him always.
J.D. Webster
J. D. Webster
Additional details on Robbie's accident are mentioned here: http://www.pulitzer.org/archives/6725
Below is a picture of the AV-8A Harrier.
George Hamilton
Thanks JD. I did not know the details of his latter life & death.--george
Mark Horton
Beautiful tribute J.D. Thank you.
Kim Ellen Manning (Manning)
Thank you so much for this, JD. A very moving tribute!
John Cochran
Very well stated, JD..... Robbie never did anything halfway or "to just get by"- He was hard nosed on the football field, but a great friend and teammate- He never took a play off, and he demanded the same commitment from every one of us on the field- He played the game w/ a passion that reflects how he approached everything he did- I know that in his service in the military, he gave the same effort and commitment- A true warrior in football, wrestling, and in life- But, a fun loving guy.....check out our senior yearbook, and you'll see a picture of Robbie w/ an arrow through his head- Just loved life, and loved to have fun- May God Bless his family.
Mike Weesner
JD, That was a nice story and Robbie would have appreciated it. As you said, he had just married and if memory serves me correctly, he married on Valentines Day. I couldn't make the wedding but Robbie and I had a long conversation at my house about the Lord at Christmas just before he got married. He gave his life to Christ somewhere between Young Life and while he was attending Canoe U. The first or second summer after he attended the accademy, we took a trip to Panama City and he drove that beautiful yellow Chevy Vega. He refused to drive over the speed limit becasue it would break the law. It drove me crazy but we finally made it. I have some pictures to post from our Western tour trip and the Panama City trip too. Do you guys remember when Robbie showed up for fall football practice and we couldn't believe how he had bulked up that summer. Robbie could out run me and Zitch during wind sprints and coach Childress would nag at me about it every time. He would say "I know you're loafing Weesner becasue Wilson is out running you" and I would say back to the coach "he is not he's just quicker than I am coach" as we ran another wind sprint for whatever coach could think of next... lol
Mike Weesner
This is a picture of Robbie when we went to Panama City while he was attending canoe U. If you look closely, Robbie isn't displaying a bird or a peace sign, he is saying "One Way" Jesus Hallelujah!! Also, notice the Naval Accademy sticker on the rear window. He loved that Vega too! Made modifications to it and more. By the way, he totaled it on the way back to the academy a short time later after falling asleep at the wheel. Who would ever guess that Robby would fall asleep driving, If you ever rode with him, and I did many times, there was never a dull moment.
Steve Williams
Wonderful tribute, J.D.! So good to hear of what happened in Robbie's life after high school.
Jim Record
Robbie Wilson was a dear friend and one of the toughest guys I knew during high school. Those who played football with him can testify to that. Robbie as many of us knew him was also smart and dedicated. When I learned of his plane crash in North Carolina I was quite shocked and saddened as I always enjoyed being around him and watching him pull some funny things on people. Another friend who passed way to early in life and makes you realize how fleeting our lives really are. Robbie wilson will always be remembered and will be missed by the many friends he had.