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Submit- Full
name
MARTIN, Robert Furniss - Date of
birth
6 May 1912 -
Age
31 - Place of
birth
Alvin, Brazoria County, Texas -
Hometown
Brazoria County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38161488 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Distinguished Flying Cross,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
4 October 1943 - Place of
death
Westerschelde, east of Ellewoutsdijk, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles E. Martin (father)
Winifred G. Martin (mother)
John H. Martin (brother)
William Martin (brother)
Jim Martin (brother)
Mcneill Martin (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5807 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Rikki Tikki Tavi aka Minor Ball
Destination: Frankfurt, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Vereinigte Deutsche Metallwerke (VDM) aviation industry
MACR: 910
More information
T/Sgt Robert F. Martin enlisted in Houston, Texas on 11 June 1942.The aircraft was shot down by flak and enemy aircraft on the return flight and crashed at 12.25 h.
The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Only two bodies were recovered. S/Sgt Towsley's body washed ashore. The exact date and location is not known. The body of S/Sgt Burgess washed ashore at Buitenhaven, Vlissingen on 19 October 1943. He was initially buried at the Northern Cemetery of Vlissingen a day later.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - WWII Enlistment Record / 1930 Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Co de Swart