Robert F . Travis Brigadier General Robert F . Travis ( December 26 , 1904 , in Savannah , Georgia – August 5 , 1950 , at Fairfield - Suisun Air Force Base , California ) was a U . S . Air Force officer who served during World War II . Travis saw action in World War II as commander of the Eighth Air Force 41st Bombardment Wing , based at RAF Molesworth , England . He personally led his men in 35 combat missions over Nazi - occupied Europe . The decorations that he received included the Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters , the Air Medal with three clusters , the French Croix de guerre with palm , the Légion d ' honneur , and the Purple Heart . Travis was killed in the crash of a B - 29 Superfortress , 5 minutes after takeoff on August 5 , 1950 , at Fairfield - Suisun Air Force Base , California . Military career . Travis entered the University of Georgia in 1924 , but received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York . He graduated and was commissioned a second lieutenant , field infantry , in June 1928 . In September 1928 , Travis entered the United States Army Air Corps Primary Flying School at Brooks Field , Texas , and , upon completion of the course , enrolled in the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field . He graduated in September 1929 , and was sent to the 1st Observation Squadron at Mitchel Field , New York , as an engineering officer . In July 1932 he entered the Air Corps Engineering School at Wright Field , Dayton , Ohio , and completed the course in July 1933 . In August 1933 , he was ordered to the 59th Service Squadron at Langley Field , Virginia , to serve as supply engineering and operations officer . From February to May 1934 , during the Air Mail scandal , Travis served as the engineering inspector for the Eastern Zone of the Army Air Corps Mail Operation ( AACMO ) based at Floyd Bennett Field , Brooklyn , and Mitchel Field , Long Island , in New York . Upon completion of this assignment , he returned to Langley Field , where he became the engineering and armament officer of the 49th Bombardment Squadron , 2nd Bombardment Group , in December 1934 . In March 1935 , he was made a flight commander in the 49th Bombardment Squadron . By October 1937 , he transferred to the headquarters staff of the 2nd BG as the group intelligence and armament officer . In March 1939 , Travis went to the 72d Bombardment Squadron at Hickam Field , Hawaii , to serve as operations officer and a flight commander . In July 1939 , he became the Commanding Officer of the 72nd Bombardment Squadron . He was named materiel officer of the 5th Bombardment Group in September 1940 . Travis returned to the United States in May 1941 , when he was assigned to the 29th Bombardment Group , MacDill Field , Florida , to serve as the Commanding Officer of the 43d Bombardment Squadron . He was subsequently elevated to Group Executive Officer and later to the position of Group Commander of the 29th Bombardment Group . He moved with the 29th BG in June 1942 , when the unit was relocated to Gowen Field , Idaho . In September 1942 , he became the Commanding Officer of the 15th Bombardment Training Wing , Gowen Field . The general moved with the 15th Bombardment Wing , when the unit was transferred to Sioux City AAB , Iowa , in February 1943 . In July 1943 , he became the Commanding General of the I Bomber Command , El Paso AAF , Texas . Travis was next assigned to the European Theater of Operations in August 1943 , and assumed command of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing of the Eighth Air Force in September 1943 . During this time , he flew 35 missions over enemy - occupied territory , including a mission to destroy the Focke - Wulf AGO Flugzeugwerke fighter plant in Oschersleben , Germany . He returned to the United States in September 1944 and was named Commanding General of the 17th Bombardment Training Wing , Grand Island AAF , Nebraska , which later moved to Sioux City AAB , Iowa . In August 1945 , Travis was assigned to command the Sioux Falls Army Air Field in South Dakota . Approximately one year later , Travis entered National War College . He graduated in June 1947 , and in August he became the Chief of Staff of the Seventh Air Force at Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii . He later assumed command of the 7th Air Division ( formally the Seventh Air Force ) at Hickam AFB . In September 1948 , he was appointed Commanding General of the Pacific Air Command at Hickam . He would hold that position until June 1949 . On June 17 , 1949 , Travis became the Commanding General of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Fairfield - Suisun AFB , California . He assumed command of the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on November 8 , 1949 , commanding both wings at the base . Travis was killed on August 5 , 1950 , while acting as command pilot on a B - 29 Superfortress ( 44 - 87651 ) bound for Guam at the request of Gen . Douglas MacArthur , carrying one MK - 4 atomic bomb but with the uranium core carried on another plane . The aircraft suffered two runaway propellers and landing gear problems 5 minutes after takeoff at Fairfield - Suisun Air Force Base . The crew attempted an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed , and the high explosives in the bomb detonated during the fire 20 minutes after the crash . Of the 20 persons on board , 12 were killed in the crash . An additional seven people who were not part of the crew died on the ground in the ensuing explosion . Fairfield - Suisun AFB was officially renamed Travis Air Force Base on April 20 , 1951 , in his honor . Savannah - Hilton Head International Airport ' s former name was Travis Field , named in the native son ' s honor . Flight information . Rating : Command Pilot , Combat Observer , Expert Bombardier , Aerial Gunner and Celestial Navigator Aircraft flown : B - 17 , B - 29