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name
MCDONALD, Robert Lewis - Date of
birth
16 May 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia -
Hometown
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-802590 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
550th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 July 1944 - Place of
death
Wolwelange-Rambrouch, Luxembourg
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 12 | 41 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James S. McDonald (father)
Annie R. McDonald (mother)
William L. McDonald (brother)
Margaret J. (McHan) McDonald (wife)
Patricia V. McDonald (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102606 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Curley’s Kids
Destination: Munich, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a marshalling yard, an aircraft engine factory and an airfield
MACR: 7489
More information
1st Lt Robert L. McDonald was associated with the A. B. Dick Company in Atlanta and Remington-Rand, Inc. in Dallas.He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in 1939 and earned his pilot wings at Moody Field, Georgia in April 1943. He was sent overseas in April 1944.
The B-17 with serial number 42-31917 was caught in the prop wash of the preceding aircraft, causing it to nose up and collide with B-17 #42-102606. Upon impact, #42-102606 sustained damage in the area surrounding the waist section and was last seen, out of control, going down through overcast.
One crew member survived and was taken prisoner, and nine men were killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.abmc.gov, www.findagrave.com – Russ Pickett, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Atlanta Constitution - 14 January 1945