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name
HOOVER, Robert Earl - Date of
birth
26 August 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Jackson, Madison County, Tennessee -
Hometown
Wayne County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-688702 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
613th Bombardment Squadron,
401st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
28 May 1944 - Place of
death
Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 25 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John M. Hoover (father)
Dona (Wyatt) Hoover (mother)
Kenneth D. Hoover (half-brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102581 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Lonesome Polecat
Destionation: Dessau, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 5306
More information
This was the roughest mission of the 401st Bombardment Group's tour in the ETO. The Group furnished the Low Box of the 94th Combat Wing and was chosen as the focus of attack by approximately 200 enemy fighters. The attacks lasted for 40 minutes, from the I.P. through two runs at the target. As many as 60 enemy aircraft attacked in formation, using saturation tactics. As a result, all of the High Squadron but the Lead Aircraft were shot down. A total of six Group aircraft were lost in the target area while another was forced to ditch in the English Channel.
Source of information: Michel Beckers, Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.remember-our-heroes.nl - Andy Swinnen