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name
FRANCIS, Robert F - Date of
birth
14 July 1919 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Washington -
Hometown
Blaine, Whatcom County, Washington
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-731048 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
336th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
13 June 1943 - Place of
death
Baltic Sea, off the coast of Kiel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Otto F. Francis (father)
Mary G. Francis (mother)
Mildred G. Francis (sister)
Aleta J. Francis (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-29680 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Battlin B
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of U-boat yards
MACR: 2751
More information
Statement from Captain David E. Olsson, Assistant Operations Officer:"B-17F 42-29680 piloted by 1st Lt Joseph L. Nunes on the 13 June, 1943 was last seen between 54 ° to 55° N and 08° to 10° E. The aircraft was never seen in trouble or leaving the formation. On this mission, a great deal of enemy opposition was encountered (over 100 enemy aircraft), causing 10 aircraft of this unit to be lost. It is understandable that the crews returned unable to give any information concerning this missing aircraft."
The entire crew of ten men was killed. The remains of seven were never recovered and are remembered on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten. One is buried at Ardennes Cemetery, and two are buried in the U.S.A.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Marc van den Berkmortel, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census
Photo source: Danny van der Groen, Arie-Jan van Hees