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Personal info

Full name
CLAUSEN, Robert Leslie
Date of birth
15 December 1918
Age
24
Place of birth
Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
Hometown
Douglas County, Nebraska

Military service

Service number
O-729606
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
368th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
21 May 1943
Place of death
North Sea, north of Wilhelmshaven, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Bertel N. Clausen (mother)
Daisy E. (Philips) Clausen (mother)
Madge M. Clausen (stepsister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-29806
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boat yards
MACR: 16018

More information

Robert Clausen graduated from Central High School in Omaha and attended Omaha University. He was employed as an assistant buyer at the Miller Cereal mills.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Crook, Nebraska on 5 January 1942.

At the target intense flak and heavy fighter opposition caused considerable damage to many aircraft in the formation. This aircraft was hit by flak and was last seen on the return trip over the North Sea, in trouble but under control, losing altitude and straggling behind the formation.

It ditched in the sea. Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Serena Cloos/1936 yearbook