Robert Foster enlisted into the United States Army Air Forces on 1942-07-03. In 1942, Foster was stationed at Spence Air Base in Moultrie, GA. He received advanced single-engine flying training in the P-40 Warhawk. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in July of 1942. In early 1943, he was stationed at Mitchel Field in Long Island, NY before being deployed to Burma, India in the summer of that year. 

Foster completed 120 operational missions in a P-40 Warhawk before switching to a P-47 Thunderbolt. In a 1945 newspaper interview, Foster explained why he favored the P-40 Warhawk over the P-47 Thunderbolt, “I found that I could gauge my target better and that I could dive lower before pulling out. It was a real dependable machine. I got to like it better than the newer P-47.” He flew both planes while providing aerial support for General Stilwell’s troops  in Burma. He also participated in sweeps and patrol missions that protected C-47 military transport planes over the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains. He completed 143 combat missions in 18 months in the China Burma India Theater. For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with an oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters. 

After returning to the United States in 1944, he was stationed at the Army Air Force Redistribution Station No. 1 in Atlantic City, NJ. He was reassigned to the 1055th Squadron, 3501st Army Air Base Unit at Boca Raton Army Air Field, Boca Raton, FL. Foster was discharged on 1946-02-06. 

He re-enlisted into the Army on 1949-01-04. He served as a mechanical engineer at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, VA. Job assignments as a mechanical engineer in the Air Force include: developmental engineer, test pilot, flight test combat systems officer, flight test engineer, airfield operation, operations research analyst, aircraft maintenance, logistics readiness, and civil engineering. Foster was discharged as a first lieutenant on 1951-10-18.

Robert Ludlow “Lud” Foster was born on 1919-01-25 in Long Island City, NY to James Sr. and Marie Foster. He was the second child of four. His older brother was James Jr. His younger siblings were Kenneth and June. The Foster’s moved to Highland Road, Mahwah in 1920. Foster is a 1937 graduate of Ramsey High School. After high school, he attended Rutgers University. At Rutgers, he majored in mechanical engineering. He had plans of entering the business industry after graduating. He was a member of Rutgers swim team, football team, and intramural track team. He was also a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of American Military Engineers, a fraternity, and the Civilian Pilot Training Program. He was an employee of Godfrey Manufacturing Company in New Brunswick and in the engineering department of the Public Service in Irvington. 

Foster served in the Air Force from 1942 until 1949 and again from 1949 until 1951. While stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton VA, Foster married Marie Miller on 1950-02-04. The Fosters had two daughters: Catherine and Erica. The Foster’s lived on Highland Road, Mahwah. He worked as an electrical engineer at Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton, NJ. Foster died on 1968-07-15. He was 49. 

3501 AAF Base Unit, USAF Unit Histories. 

"Foster Gets Commission," The Record, July 14, 1942, p. 5.

"Lieut. Foster Finds Aim Better On Warhawk," The Record, January 4, 1945, p. 5.

"Lieut. Foster, Mahwah Back From 143 Flights," The Record, December 5, 1944, p. 5. 

"Lt. Robt. Foster Of Mahwah Is Awarded D.F.C.," Ramapo Valley Independent, October 19, 1944.

"Mahwah News," Ramapo Valley Independent, February 25, 1943, p. 5.

"Mahwah News," Ramapo Valley Independent, November 22, 1944, p. 2. 

Mechanical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy. 

"Ramsey," The Record, August 17, 1943, p. 16.

Robert Foster, 1930 United States Federal Census.

Robert Foster, 1940 United States Federal Census.

Robert L Foster, 1950 United States Federal Census.

Robert L. Foster, Find a Grave.

"Robert L. Foster," Ridgewood Herald-News, July 18, 1968, p. 27.

Robert Ludlow Foster, Virginia, U.S., Marriage Records, 1936-2014.

Robert Ludlow Foster, U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970.

Robert Ludlow Foster, U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016.