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Personal info

Full name
GUNSON, Robert Frances
Date of birth
10 October 1920
Age
unknown
Place of birth
New Jersey
Hometown
Camden County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
32078273
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
365th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 Juni 1943
Place of death
5 km south of Valburg, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
I 21 5

Immediate family

Members
Thomas G. Gunson (father)
Margeret V. (Joyce) Gunson (mother)
John J. Gunson (brother)
Thomas E. Gunson (brother)
Richard A. Gunson (brother)
Paul D. Gunson (brother)
Marjorie M Gunson (sister)
Elizabeth Gunson (sister)
Sarah Gunson (wife)
James Gunson (son)

Plane data

Serial number
41-24533
Data
Type: B-17F-20-BO
Nickname: Boom Town
Destination: Hüls, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Zeche Auguste Viktoria synthetic rubber plant
MACR: 16205

More information

Sgt Robert F. Gunson worked as an elevator constructor.

He enlisted in Camden, New Jersey on 5 August 1943.

Statement form 2nd Lt Walter E. Allen, one of the surviving crew members:
"After trouble began over target we were constantly under enemy attack until we went down. Shortly before the finish several voices were heard to come over the interphone. Proof that the interphone was not out was that a few voices still came over. Twenty millimeter shells burst within 2 yards of me twice. Since the nose was not attacked as severly as the fuselage because nose guns were very active, but ball turret was out. It is logical to believe that many shells hit within the fuselage in the period of 25 minutes of contant attack. Ball Turret operator S/Sgt Gunson, Co-Pilot 1st Lt Grose, Radio Operator T/Sgt Kanetzky and Waist Gunner were all still in the A/C when it struck the ground."

The airplane exploded in the air. Four crew members were killed in the plane, two died on the ground and four were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.findagrave.comwww.fold3.com

Photo source:
Michel Beckers, www.ancestry.com - R Steve G