Robert Morgan '36

Robert Knight Morgan '36 (1918-2004) was born and raised in Asheville, known for being the type of rambunctious boy that fit the archetype of Christ School during the Great Depression era. 

His family had to give up their home in Biltmore Forest following the Wall Street Crash of October 1929, but Cornelia Vanderbilt allowed the Morgans to live in a cottage on the Biltmore Estate's grounds. 

Morgan was a captain in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, where he famously piloted the B-17 Memphis Belle for 25 missions. Following his tour in Europe, Robert flew another 26 combat missions in the B-29 Superfortress against Japan in the Pacific Theater. 

After graduating from Christ School, he attended the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. Robert entered the Army Air Corps in 1940, earning his pilot wings and a commission as a second lieutenant in 1941. 

The Memphis Belle flew 148 hours, dropped more than 60 tons of bombs, and had every major part of the plane replaced at least once. The 25th and final bombing mission is chronicled in the 1990 movie, "Memphis Belle." Robert also wrote about his experience in 2001's autobiography, "The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle: Memoir of a WWII Bomber Pilot."

“If you want in just one word how we were able to go through the hell of Europe 25 times and get back home without a casualty, I’ll give it to you,” Morgan said during a 31-city tour to promote the war effort in 1943. 

“The word is 'teamwork.' Until you have been over there, you can’t know how essential that is. We had 10 men working together, each ready and able to help out anybody else who might need him.”

Robert left active duty after World War II but continued to fly in the Air Force Reserve. His military awards included the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters and the Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters. He retired from the Air Force Reserve with the rank of colonel in 1965.