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name
JOHNSON, Robert O - Date of
birth
5 March 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Illinois -
Hometown
Burbank, Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
19080173 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer -
Unit
546th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
9 March 1944 - Place of
death
Berlin-Marienfeld, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Clarence E. Johnson (father)
Rose K. (Schnell) Johnson (mother)
Clarence Johnson (brother)
Walter M Johnson (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-37781 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Silver Dollar
Destination: Oranienburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Heinkel aircraft plant
MACR: 3005
More information
Sgt Robert O. Johnson volunteered for the Army of the United States in Los Angeles, California on 19 February 1942.The primary target, the Heinkel aircraft plant in Oranienburg, was hidden by dense clouds, so the secondary target, the city center of Berlin, was bombed.
The airplane was hit by bombs of the High Group (379th Bomber Squadron), which knocked off the tail completely. It went straight down into a spin with all four engines still running.
Two crew members were taken prisoner, and eight men were killed.
Sgt Johnson is remembered at Glen Haven Memorial Park.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Keith Ellefson - 384th Bombardment Group Research, www.findagrave.com - Jax