Robert Ross Oberg

Preferred Name: Bob
Nickname/Call Sign: Obie
Date of Birth: May 19, 1939
Highest Military Grade: 0-4 – Major
Hometown: Great Falls, MT
Headed West Date: July 6, 2012

Robert  Oberg, (Major USAF, Ret.) was born in Great Falls, MT on May 19, 1939. He first served in Europe as an F-100 Pilot with the 77th TFS at RAF Wethersfield, came to the 615th TFS at Phan Rang, Vietnam as a flight lead and flew 300 combat missions from 1967-1968. He was assigned to Nellis AFB after Vietnam as part of the initial F-111A cadre and flew 80 F-111A combat missions on a second TDY from Taklhi AB, Thailand.

Howard Hansen, a Super Sabre Society member believes “Bob” came to Phan Rang in the summer of 1967 about the same time as Jim Anthony, Jay Closner, John Miko, Dave Cassidy and Don Gish (from Wethersfield I believe).  Being a high-time F-100 guy, he checked out as flight lead early and I flew with him a number of times in the Jul-Nov time frame. He was a good leader and I always looked forward to flying with him.  The only single mission I remember was off alert on Dec 9. It was our third mission of the day and we launched right at sunset. Was after sunset when we arrived at target but not totally dark yet. Unfortunately, it was on the side of a small but steep mountain.   Bob decided to go ahead with the strike even though no flare ship was available. (great decision). We had 8 X 750# plus strafe so not a great load for the troops close by. We put the strike in and FAC seemed happy.

The next evening an Army Capt called the squadron asking to talk with Blade 1 from the previous day.  He said he was the commander of the troops where Blade 1 put in the strike. He said when we arrived he had 22 soldiers with him (1 dead and 18 injured) plus a helicopter crew shot down trying to get them out and they were about to be over-run.  After our strike, they got another helicopter(s) in and got everyone out. I remember at the time thinking that the really good missions made up for all the tree busters. Just before I came home in June 1968, Bob and Jim Anthony got assignments to the F-111 at Nellis and I had no further contact.  Bob was a great flight leader and a natural fighter pilot.”