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name
MORRISON, Robert Joseph - Date of
birth
2 May 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Ohio -
Hometown
Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
15377111 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
337th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
8 May 1944 - Place of
death
Döverden, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 37 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John B. Morrison Jr. (father)
Ruth B. Morrison (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97782 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the city
MACR: 4572
More information
T/Sgt Robert J. Morrison was a metal worker.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio on 1 December 1942.
The aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters and set afire. It also collided with an enemy fighter plane after which it exploded.
According to surviving crew members the radio room got a direct hit which caused T/Sgt Morrison to suffer servere abdominal wounds from which he collapsed.
Eight crew members could bail out. Seven ot them were taken prisoner. Two of them were ordered to place the body of T/Sgt Caum in a truck. They believed he was beaten to death by civilians because of the bruises and the condition of his body.
The other two crew members, Harold L. Niswonger and Robert J. Morrison were killed in the plane. Records show that Caum and Niswonger were initially buried at the Jewish Cemetery of Hoya on 10 May 1944. It can be assumed that also T/Sgt Morrison was initially buried at this cemetery.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Sophie Vleugels