Robert Marshall Hanford was born in Brooklyn, New York, on 11 March 1895, the son of Frederick Lewis Hanford. Robert was orphaned at an early age and was raised in New York City by his grandmother, Mrs. E. Marshall. He attended Georgetown University Law School, Washington, D.C., Class of 1917. He left that institution before completing his course of study in 1915 to work as a salesman in Brooklyn. On 4 April 1917, Hanford joined the American Volunteer Motor Ambulance Corps in New York City. On 14 April 1917 he sailed for France aboard the Rochambeau and served briefly in France with its Ambulance Corps. On 24 May 1917, Hanford enlisted in France's Service Aeronautique. From 5 June to 15 October 1917, he attended the Aviation school at Avord. On that date, Soldat Hanford was taking his test for his French brevet. While flying a Caudron from Avord to Chateauroux where he was attempting to land, he collided with a Farman bi-plane which had approached his aircraft from Hanford's blind spot. He was instantly killed as both aircraft came hurtling to Earth. He was 22 years old at the time of his death. [Source: "The Lafayette Flying Corps: The American Volunteers in the French Air Service in World War One," by Dennis Gordon. Schiffer Military History, Atglen, PA: 2000. Page 216.]