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Personal info

Full name
HOPKINS, Robert Henry Martin
Date of birth
6 November 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut
Hometown
Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Military service

Service number
11099029
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Right Waist Gunner
Unit
565th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 March 1945
Place of death
Near Sevelen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Henry M. Hopkins Sr. (father)
Carolyn F. (Cande) Hopkins (mother)
Polly Hopkins (sister)
Henry M. Hopkins Jr. (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-50779
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Wesel, Germany
Mission: Supply drop
MACR: 13581

More information

S/Sgt Robert H. M. Hopkins attended college and was a laboratory technician and assistant before he enlisted in Springfield, Massachusetts on 8 October 1942.

Capt John L. Hunter:
Aircraft 42-50779 was flying on my left wing when we entered the area of the dropping zone. There was some very dense smoke limiting visibility to about ½ mile. After making a turn to the right to attempt a second run, Lt Bloore’s aircraft disappeared in the smoke and was not seen again. At that time we were flying at 200 feet. He was last seen about ½ of a mile northeast of the town Wesel, Germany.

The pilot, 1st Lt. Robert V. Bloore, had to make a forced landing. The plane landed on an ammunition dump near Sevelen, Germany. People at the site managed to assist the crew, but not all including William could be rescued due to the flames.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Ostrander Tree, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.findagrave.com – John Dowdy, www.intheoldendays.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Misty, www.ancestry.com – Public Member Photo