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CAPT “Robbie” Roberts NHA Lifetime Achievement Award LT Joey “Bags” DeLorenzo, USN
By LT Joey “Bags” DeLorenzo, USN, HSM-40 PAO
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52 Naval Aircraft flown, over 20 years of Naval Service, and over 100 Combat Sorties — these are just some of the numbers that describe the achievements of CAPT “Robbie” Roberts. “Robbie” is the oldest living Naval Helicopter Pilot with his 107th birthday on April 17th of 2021. It was no surprise that he was chosen for the Naval Helicopter Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. His service to Naval Aviation, and specifically to Naval Rotary Wing Aviation, were unwavering and immense. Aside from the numbers which depict his illustrious career, “Robbie” was the 2nd Naval Helicopter Squadron Commanding Officer of the Navy’s first helicopter squadron, HU-2 from 1953-1955.
The call came from the Naval Helicopter Association that CAPT Roberts was being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award and that it would be fitting if CAPT Roberts could be presented with the award by current Naval Helicopter Pilots. Honored to be given the opportunity to recognize a pillar of Naval Rotary Wing Aviation, CAPT Richard “Chip” Whitfield, Commodore of Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Atlantic, “rogered” up to call. Plans were set in motion to make the trip down to Orlando to present CAPT Roberts with his award in person.
HSM-40 plays many roles in the Naval Aviation Enterprise besides just training the latest Naval Aviators on the world’s most advanced helicopter. We also train maintainers, new and old, manage the East Coast’s Search and Rescue Program, train the latest Aircrewmen, and, often not mentioned, act as the face of HSM to the general public. While the perpetual battle against COVID-19 and the intricacies of maintaining the health and safety of our force and of our community prevented almost all of our Public Affairs activities from occurring in 2020, the opportunity to present CAPT Roberts with his Lifetime Achievement Award was the absolute perfect way to show our appreciation while maintaining and adhering to COVID-19 precautions.
The day started out much like any other flight day, both crews met at 0700 to execute our ORM and NATOPS brief. In one aircraft was CAPT “Chip” Whitfield and CAPT “JR” Drenning, the Commanding Officer of HSM-40, and in the other, myself and LT “Cheeto” Bakey, the JO’s responsible for ensuring the event went as planned. An uneventful preflight and takeoff led to the short flight down to Orlando Executive Airfield, just outside Orlando proper, where we would meet CAPT Roberts and his team. Upon landing, we were greeted by CAPT Roberts’ team, a few members of Navy League, and a couple of local news agencies. While CAPT Roberts was being prepped for an interview with local news, HSM-40 aircrew and maintainers from our aircraft individually went up and expressed gratitude and congratulations to him. Following the news interview, CAPT Drenning and CAPT Roberts, followed by small groups of other guests in rotation, went out to the two aircraft flown down earlier that day. Putting on his best tour guide impression, CAPT Drenning showed CAPT Roberts around the latest and greatest helicopter in the Navy’s arsenal, the MH-60R.
The day finished out with the award presentation (with socially distancing) in a conference room at the back of the Atlantic Aviation FBO. Chairs spaced properly were filled with members of HSM-40, Navy League, and CAPT Roberts’ team who watched as CAPT Roberts was presented with his Lifetime Achievement Award. They listened intently as CAPT Roberts told sea-stories from an era of Naval Aviation unfamiliar to even the most senior of active duty Aviators in the room. After a final “see-you-soon” from the Aircrew to CAPT Roberts, CAPT Roberts departed for his home and the Aircrew back to Naval Station Mayport.
HSM-40 and HSMWL were honored to be there to present CAPT Roberts with his award. “Robbie” is a force to be reckoned with and we wish him all the best and congratulations and cannot wait to fly down again to visit!
CAPT Roberts - 107 years young
