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Personal info

Full name
WELLMAN, Robert F
Date of birth
9 February 1909
Age
35
Place of birth
Bay City, Bay County, Michigan
Hometown
Bay City, Bay County, Michigan

Military service

Service number
36168236
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
546th Bombardment Squadron,
384th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
9 March 1944
Place of death
Berlin-Marienfelde, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 7 14

Immediate family

Members
Richard R. Wellman (father)
Mary E. Wellman (mother)
Daniel R. Wellman (brother)
Samuel B. Wellman (brother)
Harry A. Wellman (brother)
George Wellman (brother)
Charlotte L. Wellman (sister)
Richard R. Wellman (brother)
Harry A. Wellman (half-brother)
Josephine E. Wellman (half-sister)

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

T/Sgt Robert Wellman enlisted on 23 January 1942 at Fort Custer, Michigan.

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.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record,
www.ancestry.com - One World Family Tree / U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com

Photo source: Jac Engels, www.384thbombgroup.com