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Personal info

Full name
HIGGINS, Robert George
Date of birth
20 December 1921
Age
22
Place of birth
Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois
Hometown
Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota

Military service

Service number
O-722850
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
336th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 October 1944
Place of death
Millingsdorf, 19 km northeast of Weimar, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 8 1

Immediate family

Members
George W. Higgins (father)
Eulah M. (Perrego) Higgins (mother)
John A. Higgins (brother)
Audrey (O'Connor) Higgins (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
44-6482
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bohlen, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 9559

More information

Lt. Robert G. Higgins graduated from Rochester High School in 1938 and the University of Chicago in 1942.

A/C 44-6482 was hit by flak. Five crew members bailed out shortly after leaving formation. The aircraft exploded in midair within 5 seconds after the last man left the ship, killing the remaining 4 crew members. 2nd Lt Higgins was among the men who bailed out prior to the explosion. Surviving member reports indicate that he may have been killed by a burning part of the exploded plane that may have set his parachute afire.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch www.wwiimemorial.com, www.8thafhs.com, www.fold3.com – MACR, WWII Draft Card, Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, University of Chicago Magazine - October 1945