Memorial

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2nd Lt Robert W. Merrell joined the Regular Army in Fort MacArthur San Pedro, California on 28 September 1940.

He attended 1 year of college and was a salesman.

He was a recipient of his second Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave", August 1st, 1943. One of the most daring raids of WWII.

The pilot of the aircraft was John Dudley Palm.

On the way to the target Capt. Brian W. Flavelle's aircraft went down in the Mediterranean. Flavelles wingman descended to investigate the crash scene and search for survivors. This left Lt. Palm at the head of the second section. When he reached the Initial Point he took up position on the extreme left on the second attack wave. At this point his navigator advised that the IP had been wrongly identified. Adhering to radio blackout, Palm elected to brake away from the formation and head alone to the target. Coming out of a rain cloud and flying very low, Brewery Wagon received a direct flack hit on the nose compartment killing the bombardier and fatally injuring the navigator. Palm was severely injured in the lower leg. One engine was out and the two others badly damaged. After jettisoning the bombs on an empty factory the aircraft turned south to escape th flak. Shortly after leaving the target Palm was attacked by Hauptmann W. Steinmann, CO of 1./4JG. The additional damages caused by the 20 mm and 7.92 mm MG hits brought the aircraft down in a field at Tatarani near railway Bucharest-Ploesti.