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name
COOK, Robert Richard "Dick" - Date of
birth
1921 -
Age
unknown - Place of
birth
Indiana -
Hometown
Hanging Grove Township, Jasper County, Indiana
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-698870 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
720th Bombardment Squadron,
450th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 May 1944 - Place of
death
Near Lanau, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 16 | 59 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Robert Cook (father)
Merle R. Cook (mother)
Wallace Cook (brother)
Lois Cook (sister)
Philip Cook (brother)
Jean Cook (sister)
Herber Cook (brother)
Tommy Cook (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-78226 -
Data
Type: B-24G
Destination: Wiener- Neustadt, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the airdrome
MACR: 5648
More information
2nd Lt Robert R. Cook attended high school for 4 years before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in La Fayette, Indiana on 2 July 1942.2nd Lt Julius Goldstein:
On 24 May 1944, our group was on a mission to bomb the target at Wiener-Neustadt, Austria. I was flying as Navigator in ship #339 in the left element of the first attack unit. Lt Guldberg was flying ship #42-78226 in the same element. Route to the target enemy fighters attacked our formation. Lt Guldberg’s aircraft was hit in the fuselage and fire broke out. Soon afterwards I saw five members of the crew bail out. The ship was under control but smoking when I lost sight of it. The time was 1025. And the coordinates were 47.30N-16.10E. The altitude was approximately 14,000 feet.
1st Lt Paul E. Lee:
He was in nose passage at bomb bay’s when I jumped. I believe he didn’t have his chest chute and went back after it, in the meantime ship exploded and crashed. I do not believe he was wounded from enemy fire.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 U.S. Census, www.fold3.com
Photo source:www.findagrave.com - Len, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-J Texas / Bombardier Class Book 43-14, San Angelo AAF, Texas