Robert was born in Lafayette, Indiana on 21 February 1920. His parents were Clifton and Cora Ewing; the family included siblings Ralph, Dorothy, and William. “Bob” Ewing grew up in Lafayette and attended Jefferson High School, graduating with the class of 1938. He put in three years at Purdue University before joining the service.

Robert enlisted in the US Navy on 24 June 1941, intending to become a pilot. He was trained at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, and earned his wings and a commission as a Marine second lieutenant on 29 July 1942.

Lieutenant Ewing deployed overseas as a pilot with VMF-112 in 1943, and served in the Solomon Islands campaigns. During his first tour, he claimed three Japanese aircraft shot down and was downed himself in a dogfight over Rendova on 7 July. He survived and returned to duty a few days later.

On 7 September 1943, Captain “Rootsnoot” Ewing transferred to VMF-214 (the “Black Sheep”) as a flight officer and division leader.

[Rank Lastname] [insert brief synopsis of service if known].

On 16 September 1943, VMF-214 was assigned to escort a large strike force of Marine and Navy dive bombers to Ballale in the Shortland Islands. This was Ewing’s first combat mission with the Black Sheep.

As the bombers began their run, an estimated 30-40 Japanese “Zeke” fighters “spilled out of the clouds” and touched off a massive dogfight. Captain Ewing’s division of four Corsairs engaged 16 “Zekes” all at once. Ewing pushed over into a steep dive, crowding the other pilots in his division, and went after a target. He was not seen again.

After the 50-minute dogfight, VMF-214 claimed 11 victories (five of which went to “Pappy” Boyington) and another 8 probables. Robert Ewing, in F4U-1 BuNo 17527, was the only Marine who failed to return. He was ultimately declared dead on 10 January 1946.

News of the incident was sent to the primary next of kin, his father Clifton Ewing, of 2800 Union Street, Lafayette, Indiana.

We were jumped by 40 Zeros with full fuel tanks. And these guys were no fools, or so I thought…. I saw a Corsair, just over the water and vulnerable, being attacked by two Zeros. The Marine aircraft was damaged, with oil all over the windscreen, and was losing speed. I attacked the nearest Zero, and as I fired he pulled up. I tried to follow, still firing, and he broke apart, but I stalled out. I recovered enough to hit the second Zero, and then I calmed down. The adrenaline rush of air combat is something that you can’t explain. I did not see the Corsair again or even know who was in it, but Bobby Ewing was the only loss we had, so it must have been him. There was no way I could make it back to base, so I headed for Munda, where I made a perfect dead-stick landing – no gas at all.
– Gregory “Pappy” Boyington to Colin Heaton. Read full interview

CENOTAPHS

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial