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Submit- Full
name
MILLER, Robert Thurman - Date of
birth
6 September 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Blue Field, Mercer County, West Virginia -
Hometown
Bland County, Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33662483 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
566th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
5 April 1945 - Place of
death
Between Brouwershaven and Zonnemaire, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 21 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert M. Miller (father)
Mary E. Miller (mother)
Elnora Miller (sister)
Edith V. (Caldwell) Miller (wife)
Mary A. Miller (daughter)
Thurman Miller (son)
Virginia Miller (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-50747 -
Data
Type: B-24M
Destination: Plauen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 1372
More information
Sgt Robert T. Miller worked in his father's business as a truck driver.At around 0830 the pilot radioed he was losing fuel and had to make a crash landing but he didn't mention the location. Shortly afterwards it was reported from Haamstede that an American plane had been shot down between Brouwershaven and Zonnemaire. Because of this location, it is believed that the fuel spill may have led to an explosion or that the B-24 was shot down by Flak near the coast, but a failed emergency landing is also possible.
The entire crew of nine men was killed. One of the crew members, Robert W. King and six, at that moment, unidentified men were initially buried at the militaire cemetery of Haamstede.
In September 2020 a memorial with nine sculptures was errected at the location of the crash.
He is aldo remembered ath the Salem Church Cemetery in Kimberling, Virginia.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, https://blandcountyhistsoc.org/WarMem/FallenHeroes.pdf