After graduating from the United States Naval Academy, Robertshaw was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in June 1936. He was assigned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard where he completed The Basic School for Marine Corps officers in June 1937. He served with the 6th Marine Regiment in Shanghai, China, and participated in the defense of the International Settlement in Shanghai from October 1937 to February 1938. In July 1939, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant while serving in China with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines. In August 1940, Robertshaw was assigned to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he served as the executive officer of the Marine detachment and as a coach for the Navy Midshipmen in football and basketball. In October 1941, while serving as an instructor at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Robertshaw was promoted to the rank of captain.
World War II
In February 1942, two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Robertshaw entered flight school at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. He completed the course in August 1942 and became a Naval Aviator with the rank of major. In October 1942, Robertshaw was assigned to serve at Noumea in New Caledonia. He assumed command of Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132, an SBD Dauntlessdive bomber squadron, in December 1942, after the prior commanding officer became a casualty. At the end of October 1942, VMSB-132 landed at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. Upon arrival, they became part of the Cactus Air Force and fought during the Battle of Guadalcanal until December 1942 when they were relieved by VMSB-233. Robertshaw's unit moved to Espiritu Santo where they became part of the Strike Command of the 13th Air Force, responsible for attacking nearby enemy bases and shipping and giving what was then considered close support to front-line units. The squadron returned to Guadalcanal in June 1943. Robertshaw was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and six Air Medals for his service in World War II, including an air attack on a group of Japanese transports in which Robertshaw scored a direct hit on one transport and severely damaged land installations in the area of the Solomon Islands in November and December 1942. Robertshaw was promoted to lieutenant colonel in December 1943. In January 1944, Robertshaw returned to the United States, where he became the commanding officer of Marine Base Defense Group 41 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. In June 1945, he was assigned to serve as Assistant G-3, Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force Pacific at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa, Hawaii. He was later assigned to serve as Marine Aviation Officer on the staff of the Commander of Naval Activities in Japan.
Post-war assignments
Robertshaw returned to the United States in July 1946 and served at the Marine Corps Air Stations in Miramar, California, El Toro, and Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. He later served in the Division of Aviation at Marine Corps Headquarters. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in February 1951.
During the Vietnam War, he flew an F-4B Phantom II fighter and served as commanding general of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Da Nang, then as the Marine liaison for the Chief of Naval Operations. He rose to the rank of lieutenant general and was the Inspector General of the Marine Corps from July 1967 to March 1969. He was the deputy chief of staff for manpower at Headquarters Marine Corps when he retired in 1971.
Personal life
Robertshaw died of cancer in 2003 at age 90. He was survived by his wife, Marjo Robertshaw and four sons, Larry, Chad, David and Dan.
