Robert William Calvert Wimsatt was born November 6, 1899, in Washington, D.C., where he was graduated from high school in 1917, and from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, in 1921. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Service of the Regular Army November 1, 1921, and promoted immediately to first lieutenant.
General Wimsatt then began flying training and was graduated from primary and advanced flying schools at Carlstrom Field, Florida, and Kelly Field, Texas, and rated a pilot in December, 1922. He was assigned as an instructor at the primary flying school at Brooks Field, Texas, until October, 1924, when he joined the 24th Pursuit Squadron in the Panama Canal Zone.
In January, 1928, General Wimsatt was transferred to Langley Field, Virginia, where he served as a squadron operations officer and assistant post operations officer. In September, 1933, he was named adjutant and executive officer of the Middletown (Pennsylvania) Air Depot, and in December, 1936, became adjutant of the Headquarters School Squadron at the Air Corps Technical School, Chanute Field, Illinois.
General Wimsatt entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in September, 1937, and was graduated in June, 1938. He then entered the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, from which he was graduated in June, 1939, and assigned as operations officer at Bolling Field, D.C.
In June, 1942, General Wimsatt assumed command of the Greenland Base Command.
In August, 1943, he became commander of the air base at Newport, Arkansas, and in June, 1944, was named commander of Bolling Field.
General Wimsatt was appointed assistant chief of staff for operations of the U.S. Forces in China, in January, 1945. He assumed command of the 315th Service Group there in September, 1945.
From December, 1945, to April, 1946, General Wimsatt had temporary duty with the Officers Selection Board at AAF headquarters, Washington, D.C. He then returned to China as acting commander of the Nanking Air Division and in June, 1946, became deputy commander.
General Wimsatt returned to the United States in July, 1946, and two months later became commander of Langley Field. In August, 1947, he was appointed commanding officer of the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Langley Field, and in April, 1949, assumed command of the 4th Fighter Wing there. In July, 1949, he was transferred to Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, where he served as commander of the 52nd Fighter Wing until September, 1949; as base commander until May, 1950, and then as deputy for material of the First Air Force.
In July, 1950, General Wimsatt was appointed commander of the 6208th Depot Wing in the Philippine Islands. In June, 1951, he assumed command of the 19th Bomb Wing on Guam.
General Wimsatt has been awarded the Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Ribbon, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.
He is rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Technical Observer.
General Wimsatt and his wife, Mrs. Helen Huber Wimsatt, have four children.
PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant, Air Service, November 1, 1921; First Lieutenant, November 1, 1921; discharged as First Lieutenant, and appointed Second Lieutenant, December 15, 1922; First Lieutenant, December 28, 1926; Major (temporary), March 2, 1935, to June 16, 1936; Captain, August 1, 1935; Major (temporary), March 1, 1940; Major, July 1, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), July 23, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., December 24, 1941; Colonel, A.U.S. (Air Corps), March 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S., November 27, 1943; Lieutenant Colonel, November 1, 1944; Colonel, April 2, 1948; Brigadier General (temporary), March 8, 1952, with date of rank from January 26, 1952.
Up to date as of 31 March 1952