New Book--"Earthquake": Brig. Gen. Robert Titus, Fighter Pilot

Bill Scott, former Bureau Chief for Aviation Week, has written a new book about Air Force fighter pilot Brigadier General Robert F. Titus, call sign “Earthquake”.

Bill spent hundreds of hours with Earthquake documenting his life and then writing this biography/book which is recommended to read or give as a gift as an inspiration to show what courage, honor, ethics, and valor is all about.

STARRS Vice Chairman Major General Joe Arbuckle had the honor to sit with Earthquake for over an hour and he is a real hero; first entering the Army as a private and becoming an airborne paratrooper Sgt E6 before entering the Air Force where he flew in Korea and Vietnam with over 550 combat missions and shooting down 3 MIGs.

General Arbuckle asked him of all the many fighters he flew what was his favorite. He said the P-51 was the best fighter God created! Read the below about BG Earthquake Titus’ history.

EARTHQUAKE: Brigadier General Robert F. Titus, Fighter Pilot, Test Pilot, Leader (Buy on Amazon)

Chances are, you’ve never heard of him. But rarely has an American warrior’s life-story been as varied and engaging as that of Air Force Brigadier General Robert F. Titus.

His 32-year military career began as an 18-year-old Army paratrooper at the end of World War II.

Against the odds, he later became an Air Force fighter pilot, flew a staggering 550+ combat missions in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and shot down three North Vietnamese MiG-21 fighters.

As a test pilot, he flight-tested USAF Century-series fighters in the 1950s, including the rocket-boosted “Zero Launch F-100.”

Given the appropriate call sign “Earthquake,” his tectonic drive and superb leadership as F-15 project manager ensured the Mach 2 Eagle became a legendary fighter aircraft.

Political battles to ensure the F-15 would be fielded with an internal 20-mm cannon cost him a few more stars, but every USAF fighter since the 1970s has been equipped with a gun.

After he retired, “Earthquake” continued to inspire countless Air Force Academy cadets, who learned to lead by example from one of the Air Force’s preeminent commanders.

EARTHQUAKE: Brigadier General Robert F. Titus, Fighter Pilot, Test Pilot, Leader (Buy on Amazon)

Reviews

“Earthquake” Titus was already a national legend, known for flying the F-100 Super Sabre from a flatbed truck, when I met him at Bitburg, Germany. He was the Operations Officer of a F-105D squadron—the only major to hold that position. Our paths crossed again at Eglin AFB, Florida, when I was testing F-4Cs and he was taking command of the “Skoshi Tigers.” Before turning their F-5C Freedom Fighters over to the South Vietnamese Air Force, the Tigers proved the nimble aircraft’s combat value. Later, I flew with Titus and his squadron at Da Nang, adopting his leadership methods and combat tactics. “Earthquake” Titus was one of the best leaders to ever wear Air Force blue! Bill Scott’s biography of Titus is a must-read book!”

—Lieutenant General Thomas G. McInerney (USAF Ret.), former U.S. Air Force Assistant Vice Chief of Staff

“Through my experiences as a fighter pilot and NFL Super Bowl champion, I have met a mere handful of individuals who I would consider to be leaders of men. General Bob “Earthquake” Titus is at the top of that list. As my mentor, when I was a cadet at the Air Force Academy, Bob inspired me to be a warrior, both on the gridiron and, ultimately, as a fighter pilot flying A-10 Warthogs in combat. His commitment to duty, to his country, to his family, and to God will inspire generations of young men and women willing to stand tall in the gap between freedom and tyranny. Bob Titus is my hero.”

—Chad Hennings, Air Force A-10 pilot, Three-time Super Bowl Champion

“It’s not often one gets the chance to sit down with a near- centurion living legend—the likes of Brig Gen (Ret.) Bob “Earthquake” Titus. In late 2023, Bill Scott had that opportunity and has written an action-packed account of the life and times of Bob Titus. EQ’s story is replete with examples of wisdom, courage, resilience and humor. Read it, study it and read it again. You’ll be a better, more patriotic person for having done so.”

—Mike Gould, Lt. Gen. (ret.) USAF, 18th Superintendent, USAF Academy

EARTHQUAKE: Brigadier General Robert F. Titus, Fighter Pilot, Test Pilot, Leader (Buy on Amazon)
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William B. Scott is the former Rocky Mountain Bureau Chief for Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, author of

The Permit, a techno-thriller novel based on the murder of his eldest son;
Combat Contrails: Vietnam
contributor to License to Kill: The Murder of Erik Scott
coauthor of Space Wars: The First Six Hours of World War III
Counterspace: The Next Hours of World War III
Inside the Stealth Bomber: The B-2 Story

A Flight Test Engineer graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, he has logged 2,000 flight hours on 81 types of aircraft. He holds a BS degree in Electrical Engineering.