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Personal info

Full name
COOPER, Robert Pershing
Date of birth
29 September 1918
Age
24
Place of birth
Guthrie County, Iowa
Hometown
Guthrie County, Iowa

Military service

Service number
O-737365
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
15 May 1943
Place of death
North Sea, near Borkum Isle, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Charles C. Cooper (father)
Maude I. (Seeley) Cooper (mother)
Bertha Cooper (sister)
Clarence Cooper (brother)
Myrtle Cooper (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-3173
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Spare Ball
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad yards
MACR:15581

More information

The airplane exploded in mid-air after it was hit by a bomb, dropped by another B-17 in the group. The entire crew of ten men was killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Stuart Herald, www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, www.americanairmuseum.com