Robert C. Oaks
Preferred Name: Bob
Nickname/Call Sign:
Date of Birth: 1936
Highest Military Grade Held: General
Hometown: Provo, UT
Biography
Units Assigned
- 1960 Flight training at Bartow Air Base, FL/Vance Air Force Base, OK
- 1960-1961 Combat crew training at Luke Air Force Base, AZ/Nellis Air Force Base, NV
- 9/1961 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM., F-100
- 4/1963 to 6/1966 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan; F-100
- 8/ 1964 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, England Air Force Base, LA, F-100
- 11/1965, 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam, F-100
- 8/1967 USAF Academy, air officer commanding, 23rd Cadet Squadron/commandant of cadets’ executive for honor and ethics
- 8/1970 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron/474th Tactical Fighter Wing, 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV, F-111A
- 11/1971 391st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, ID
- 6/1974 Headquarters USAF, Washington, DC, chief, Joint Plans and Policy Branch; deputy chief, Global Plans and Policy Division; chief, Joint Policy Division; chief, International Relations Division; chief, Pacific-East Asia Division; chief, Europe-NATO Division; and deputy assistant for National Security Council matters, (within the Directorate of Plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans)
- 1/1977 Chief, Regular and Reserve General Officer Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel; assistant for general officer matters.
- 8/ 1979 -7 /1981 USAF/ Europe headquarters, assistant for readiness/ assistant deputy chief of staff, operations
- 7/1981 86th Tactical Fighter Wing (Commander), Ramstein AB, Germany
- 5/1983 Commander of the Kaiserslautern Military Community; director of personnel plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and Personnel, Air Force headquarters2/1985 he was assigned as assistant deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel.
- 10/1986 Commander of Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and deputy commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe for the Southern Area, headquartered in Naples, Italy
- 6/1988 Commander, Air Training Command with headquarters at Randolph AFB, TX
- 6/1990 Commander in chief, USAF Europe; commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
Flight Info
T-34
T-37
T-33A Shooting Star
F-100
F-100 188 combat missions in Southeast Asia
Rank: Command pilot: 4,000+ flying hours (300+ combat hours)
Awards
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (with oak leaf cluster)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
Air Medal (with 8 oak leaf clusters)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 2 oak leaf clusters)
Combat Readiness Medal
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal (with service star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with service star)
Vietnam Service Medal (with 3 service stars)
Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short
Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long (with oak leaf cluster)
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 6 oak leaf clusters)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with service star)
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Military Education
1974 Naval War College
Civilian Education
1954 Brigham Young High School
1959 BS, Air Force Academy
1967 MBA/Business Administration, Ohio State University
A Provo [UT] fighter pilot, Capt. Robert Charles Oaks was shot down Tuesday over Viet Cong territory and was rescued by an Army helicopter within 10 minutes. Captain Oaks telephoned his wife..to assure her he was safe.
The Provo pilot said he was on a strafing pass over the Viet Cong lines, flying 300 feet off the ground when his plane was hit in the belly section by ground fire. The plane caught fire and Capt. Oaks said he could hear explosions inside the plane.
He ejected from the plane and landed in Viet Cong territory, bruising his hip and wrenching his back in the fall. He said he looked around for enemy soldiers but did not see any. Within 10 minutes of the time he ejected, he was picked up by an Army helicopter and returned to his base.
Capt. Oaks, a career Air Force man, has been in Vietnam since November 1965, attached to the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Saigon. The area where he was shot down is approximately 90 miles southwest of Saigon.
Capt. Oaks has been in the service for seven years…
(source Provo, UT newspaper article
In Rising Above, Derek and Robert Oaks capture over sixty years of aviation, leadership, and life experiences to share deep insights into what they learned from some acute failures, rich opportunities, and the ability to work with some of America’s great unsung heroes. Through it all, they share a contagious love of flight and life that is sure to keep you reading till the last page.
General Robert Oaks and Colonel Derek Oaks share more than just a bloodline and last name. With over 50 years of military service between them across six continents, countless world conflicts, and too many airfields to list, their love of flying, leadership, and service tell a unique story that encompasses most of the history of the United States Air Force, but also includes some great personal stories woven into that national history. General Oaks commanded at every level, including all NATO Air Forces at the end of the cold war.
Colonel Oaks led the famed 75 Fighter Squadron and 23rd Fighter Group, The Flying Tigers. Since retiring from the military, he has continued to contribute to Air Force missions and leads an entrepreneurial life with numerous small companies. You can find out more about Col Oaks and his current efforts and mentoring thoughts at derekoaks.com.
To purchase the book, please go to Https://derekoaks.com/
- Biography
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Biography
- Units - Education - Awards - Flight Info
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Units Assigned
- 1960 Flight training at Bartow Air Base, FL/Vance Air Force Base, OK
- 1960-1961 Combat crew training at Luke Air Force Base, AZ/Nellis Air Force Base, NV
- 9/1961 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cannon AFB, NM., F-100
- 4/1963 to 6/1966 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan; F-100
- 8/ 1964 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, England Air Force Base, LA, F-100
- 11/1965, 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam, F-100
- 8/1967 USAF Academy, air officer commanding, 23rd Cadet Squadron/commandant of cadets’ executive for honor and ethics
- 8/1970 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron/474th Tactical Fighter Wing, 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV, F-111A
- 11/1971 391st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, ID
- 6/1974 Headquarters USAF, Washington, DC, chief, Joint Plans and Policy Branch; deputy chief, Global Plans and Policy Division; chief, Joint Policy Division; chief, International Relations Division; chief, Pacific-East Asia Division; chief, Europe-NATO Division; and deputy assistant for National Security Council matters, (within the Directorate of Plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans)
- 1/1977 Chief, Regular and Reserve General Officer Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel; assistant for general officer matters.
- 8/ 1979 -7 /1981 USAF/ Europe headquarters, assistant for readiness/ assistant deputy chief of staff, operations
- 7/1981 86th Tactical Fighter Wing (Commander), Ramstein AB, Germany
- 5/1983 Commander of the Kaiserslautern Military Community; director of personnel plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and Personnel, Air Force headquarters2/1985 he was assigned as assistant deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel.
- 10/1986 Commander of Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and deputy commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe for the Southern Area, headquartered in Naples, Italy
- 6/1988 Commander, Air Training Command with headquarters at Randolph AFB, TX
- 6/1990 Commander in chief, USAF Europe; commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
Flight Info
T-34
T-37
T-33A Shooting Star
F-100
F-100 188 combat missions in Southeast Asia
Rank: Command pilot: 4,000+ flying hours (300+ combat hours)Awards
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit (with oak leaf cluster)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
Air Medal (with 8 oak leaf clusters)
Air Force Commendation Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with 2 oak leaf clusters)
Combat Readiness Medal
Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal (with service star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with service star)
Vietnam Service Medal (with 3 service stars)
Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Short
Air Force Overseas Ribbon-Long (with oak leaf cluster)
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon (with 6 oak leaf clusters)
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with service star)
Republic of Vietnam Campaign MedalMilitary Education
1974 Naval War College
Civilian Education
1954 Brigham Young High School
1959 BS, Air Force Academy
1967 MBA/Business Administration, Ohio State University - Images
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- Caterpillar Club
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A Provo [UT] fighter pilot, Capt. Robert Charles Oaks was shot down Tuesday over Viet Cong territory and was rescued by an Army helicopter within 10 minutes. Captain Oaks telephoned his wife..to assure her he was safe.
The Provo pilot said he was on a strafing pass over the Viet Cong lines, flying 300 feet off the ground when his plane was hit in the belly section by ground fire. The plane caught fire and Capt. Oaks said he could hear explosions inside the plane.
He ejected from the plane and landed in Viet Cong territory, bruising his hip and wrenching his back in the fall. He said he looked around for enemy soldiers but did not see any. Within 10 minutes of the time he ejected, he was picked up by an Army helicopter and returned to his base.
Capt. Oaks, a career Air Force man, has been in Vietnam since November 1965, attached to the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Saigon. The area where he was shot down is approximately 90 miles southwest of Saigon.
Capt. Oaks has been in the service for seven years…
(source Provo, UT newspaper article
- Video
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- Books by Gen. Robert Oaks
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In Rising Above, Derek and Robert Oaks capture over sixty years of aviation, leadership, and life experiences to share deep insights into what they learned from some acute failures, rich opportunities, and the ability to work with some of America’s great unsung heroes. Through it all, they share a contagious love of flight and life that is sure to keep you reading till the last page.
General Robert Oaks and Colonel Derek Oaks share more than just a bloodline and last name. With over 50 years of military service between them across six continents, countless world conflicts, and too many airfields to list, their love of flying, leadership, and service tell a unique story that encompasses most of the history of the United States Air Force, but also includes some great personal stories woven into that national history. General Oaks commanded at every level, including all NATO Air Forces at the end of the cold war.
Colonel Oaks led the famed 75 Fighter Squadron and 23rd Fighter Group, The Flying Tigers. Since retiring from the military, he has continued to contribute to Air Force missions and leads an entrepreneurial life with numerous small companies. You can find out more about Col Oaks and his current efforts and mentoring thoughts at derekoaks.com.
To purchase the book, please go to Https://derekoaks.com/