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Personal info

Full name
EDWARDS, Robert C
Date of birth
1920
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Missouri
Hometown
Independence, Jackson County, Missouri

Military service

Service number
37540047
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Nose Gunner
Unit
778th Bombardment Squadron,
464th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
6 December 1944
Place of death
Near Malženice, Czechoslovakia

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
K 19 26

Immediate family

Members
Ernest E. Edwards (father)
Irene L. (Meek) Edwards (mother)
Warren E. Edwards (brother)
Pauline I. Edwards (sister)
Dorothy L. Edwards (sister)
Andrew C. Edwards (brother)
Della E. Edwards (sister)
Daren Edwards (brother)
Kathleen Edwards (daughter)

Plane data

Serial number
44-786409
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Devinska Nova Ves, Czechoslovakia
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yards
MACR: 10221

More information

Robert Edwards graduated from William Chrisman High School as a National Honor Society Student.

He was employed by the Butler Manufacturing Company and enlisted in September 1943.

S/Sgt William W. Skinner:

"I was left waist gunner on Capt Steven's plane 6 December 1944. I saw 4 enemy fighters ME-109s attack Lt Stevens plane at 0600 level. Then No. 3 engine of Lt Stevens' plane caught fire and I saw 2 chutes come out of his plane, then the plane went into a dive and spun for about 1,000 to 3,000 feet, then I saw 2 more chutes leave the plane and then the plane exploded."

Cpl Groover (Lt Rosche's crew):

"Edwards jumped too late, chute burned from fire in plane."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census / McGuire Family Tree, www.fold3.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Dec.44.html
Photo source: The Kansas City Star - 8 March 1945