Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
WASHBURN, Robert Hugh Clarkson - Date of
birth
15 October 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
New Brunswick, Canada -
Hometown
Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
11103114 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
360th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
1 December 1943 - Place of
death
Carvin, France
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 26 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert Washburn (father)
Doris Washburn (mother)
Helen Washburn (sister)
Ruby Washburn (sister)
Donald Washburn (brother)
Dorothy Washburn (sister)
Lois Washburn (sister)
Joan Washburn (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-39781 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Career Girl
Destination: Solingen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 1325
More information
Robert Washburn volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Hartford, Connecticut on 1 December 1942.The airplane was hit by flak, knocking out #1, #3 and #4 engines. It was last seen by other crews in the vicinity of Aachen, Germany when it dropped out of formation in a gradual turn to the right.
Sgt Robert Washburn landed with his parachute in an open area near Carvin. He noticed a crowd of French civilians running towards him. He ran the other way towards a German search party and then turned towards the French. The German soldiers shouted for him to surrender, but he kept running and the Germans shot him.
He was the only casualty. Seven other crew members were taken prisoner, two men evaded capture.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, 303rdBomberGroup.com
Photo source: Michel Beckers