Robert Martin

First Lieutenant Robert L. Martin (9 February 1919 – 26 July 2018) was a Tuskegee Airman active during World War II. His aircraft was shot down after a raid on an airfield in Yugoslavia. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Early life Robert L. Martin was born in Dubuque, Iowa on 9 February 1919. His mother died shortly after his birth. His father, Henry Martin, was a chiropedis (now more widely known as a podiatrist) who moved to Dubuque prior to Robert's birth from Louisiana after visiting while working on a river boat. When he attended an air show as a 13-year-old Boy Scout, he was inspired to become a pilot. He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School, class of 1936. While still a student at Iowa State University, Martin learned to fly in a civilian pilot training program. In 1942, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.

Tuskegee On 7 January 1944, at the age of 23, Martin graduated from flight training at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama. He was a member of the 100th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group. Martin explained that Tuskegee was "segregated where they wanted it," meaning students, ground crews, mechanics, medics and quartermasters were all black. Senior personnel instructors were all white, and acted almost like "gods." Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart

After the war In 1945, Martin returned to the U.S. after Victory in Europe Day. Martin held a variety of jobs including driving a taxi and working in factories. He was hired as a draftsman by the Chicago Park District, and went on to work as an electrical engineer for the city of Chicago. Martin retired after 37 years.

On 21 July 2020, the Dubuque Regional Airport Commission voted unanimously to name the only terminal after Captain Robert L. Martin. A fundraising campaign was underway to build a memorial monument and provide education on site about Captain Robert Martin and Tuskegee Airmen. Ribbon cutting unveiling of the Captain Robert L. Martin occurred on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

In 2024, a biography that Martin was working on with author Karen Patterson prior to his death was published. It is titled Red Tail: A Tuskegee Airman’s Rendezvous with Destiny.