Retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson recalls commanding AWACS on 9/11

  • Retired Brigadier General Ben Robinson spoke to members of the Shawnee Veterans Memorial Committee (SVMC) and the public at the Pottawatomie County Veterans Educational Museum on June 11. Robinson was the commander of the 552nd Air Control Wing, based at Tinker AFB, during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and he recounted the day-by-day progression of events during that time, using a slide show. See full caption below. Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun
    Retired Brigadier General Ben Robinson spoke to members of the Shawnee Veterans Memorial Committee (SVMC) and the public at the Pottawatomie County Veterans Educational Museum on June 11. Robinson was the commander of the 552nd Air Control Wing, based at Tinker AFB, during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and he recounted the day-by-day progression of events during that time, using a slide show. See full caption below. Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun
  • Retired Brigadier General Ben Robinson spoke to members of the Shawnee Veterans Memorial Committee (SVMC) and the public at the Pottawatomie County Veterans Educational Museum on June 11. Robinson was the commander of the 552nd Air Control Wing, based at Tinker AFB, during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and he recounted the day-by-day progression of events during that time, using a slide show.
    Retired Brigadier General Ben Robinson spoke to members of the Shawnee Veterans Memorial Committee (SVMC) and the public at the Pottawatomie County Veterans Educational Museum on June 11. Robinson was the commander of the 552nd Air Control Wing, based at Tinker AFB, during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and he recounted the day-by-day progression of events during that time, using a slide show.
  • Pottawotomie County Veterans Educational Museum and Law Library Director and Vietnam Veteran Douglas Warden introduces his friend retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson on June 11.
    Pottawotomie County Veterans Educational Museum and Law Library Director and Vietnam Veteran Douglas Warden introduces his friend retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson on June 11.
  • Brothers Bill and Bob Ford speak with Sheriff Freeland Wood.
    Brothers Bill and Bob Ford speak with Sheriff Freeland Wood.
  • Retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson recalls commanding AWACS on 9/11
    Retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson recalls commanding AWACS on 9/11
  • Retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson recalls commanding AWACS on 9/11
    Retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson recalls commanding AWACS on 9/11
  • Retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson recalls commanding AWACS on 9/11
    Retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson recalls commanding AWACS on 9/11
  • Retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson recalls commanding AWACS on 9/11
    Retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson recalls commanding AWACS on 9/11
  • Sheriff Freeland Wood speaks with Linda Robinson and her sister Ann McDonald, as retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson talks to veteran Jerry Shiles.
    Sheriff Freeland Wood speaks with Linda Robinson and her sister Ann McDonald, as retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson talks to veteran Jerry Shiles.
  • Sheriff Freeland Wood speaks with Linda Robinson and her sister Ann McDonald, as retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson talks to veterans Jerry Shiles and Bill Ford.
    Sheriff Freeland Wood speaks with Linda Robinson and her sister Ann McDonald, as retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson talks to veterans Jerry Shiles and Bill Ford.
  • Sheriff Freeland Wood speaks with Linda Robinson and her sister Ann McDonald, as retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson talks to veterans Jerry Shiles and Bill Ford.
    Sheriff Freeland Wood speaks with Linda Robinson and her sister Ann McDonald, as retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson talks to veterans Jerry Shiles and Bill Ford.
  • Veterans and brothers Bill Ford and Bob Ford pose with a photo of Bill's late father-in-law, William H. Mendenhall, and a letter from President Truman to Nancy Ford in the Gold Star Families Room at the Pott. Co. Veterans Educational Museum.
    Veterans and brothers Bill Ford and Bob Ford pose with a photo of Bill's late father-in-law, William H. Mendenhall, and a letter from President Truman to Nancy Ford in the Gold Star Families Room at the Pott. Co. Veterans Educational Museum.
  • Pott. Co. Veterans Educational Museum and Law Library
    Pott. Co. Veterans Educational Museum and Law Library

    It has been almost 25 years since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

    But retired Brigadier General Ben Robinson, who lives in his wife Linda’s hometown of Shawnee, can remember all the details.

    “I remember about three major things. I remember when Kennedy was assassinated; I was in high school,” Robinson said at the Pottawatomie County Veterans Educational Museum on June 11. “I remember when N…