Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
CORWIN, Robert James
Date of birth
unknown
Age
unknown
Place of birth
unknown
Hometown
Tipton, Tipton County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
35368283
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
339th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 May 1944
Place of death
Near the railroad station of Camburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
L 13 3

Immediate family

Members
Charles J.Corwin (father)
Ulah M. Corwin (mother)
Wilma J. Corwin (sister)
Marjorie A. Corwin (sister)
Philip Corwin (brother)
Charleane Corwin (sister)
Ceotice A. Corwin (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-102578
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Brux, Czechoslovakia
Mission: Bombing of the Sudetenlandische Teibstoffwerke AG, hydrogenation plant
MACR: 4863

More information

S/Sgt Robert J. Corwin attended Tipton High School and was employed at Delco-Remy.

He enlisted in September 1942 and was sent overseas in September 1943.

While, approximately, over the town of Limburg, Germany, (near Frankfort), the formation was attacked by fighters. The altitude at that time was 17,000 feet. Within the next few minutes the pilot called over the intercom system "fighter coming in head on boys". Almost immediately there was a blinding crash with one of the attacking fighters.

Sgt Lanham, the tail gunner was blown out and remained conscious enough to pull his parachute cord after falling free for a considerable distance. The navigator, Lt Clifford Jones managed to escape through the front hatch. The other eight crew members were killed.

S/Sgt Corwin is remembered at the Fairview Cemetery in Tipton, Tipton County, Indiana.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census, www.findagrave.com, Al Weatherburn, Tipton Daily Tribune - 27 May 1944

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet / Al Weatherburn / Laura Couture, www.newspapers.com - The Tipton Daily Tribune - 16 August 1946