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name
MAINS, Robert L - Date of
birth
9 October 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Watertown, Jefferson County, New York -
Hometown
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-680467 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
714th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
4 April 1945 - Place of
death
Ludwigslust, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten -
Walls of the Missing
* This soldier has been accounted for. A rosette has been placed next to his name.
Immediate family
-
Members
William J. Mains (father)
Delia Z. (La Salle) Mains (mother)
Willa F. Mains (sister)
Marcus J. Mains (brother)
Alice (Powers) Mains (wife)
Barbara Mains (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-50838 -
Data
Type: B-24M
Destination: Wesendorf, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 13730
More information
1st Lt Robert L. Mains graduated from Monroe High School. He was employed by the Will Corporation before entering the service.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in New York City, New York on 14 April 1942. He received his pilot's wings at graduation exercises at the Twin-engined Advanced Flying School at Pampa Army Air Field in Texas.
The aircraft was attacked by Messerschmitt 262s and broke in two.
Nine crew members were killed and their remains were never found, except for 1st Lt Robert L. Mains and Sgt Charles H. Daman, for whom the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on 12 and 15 September 2017 that their remains were accounted for.
One crew member was taken prisoner.
The remains of Robert L. Mains and Charles H. Daman were recovered and identified in September 2017.
Lt Mains was given his final resting place at Calverton National Cemetery on 2 December 2017.
On 22 March 2018, a rosette was placed next to his name at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten to indicate he is accounted for.
He is also remembered at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rochester, Monroe County, New York.
There is a famous photograph of this plane falling after being hit. It was cut in half by a Me 262. It can be found here: http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/15076
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, NARA, MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1920 Census, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Laura Phillips, Ad Jetten, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle, www.findagrave.com - David C. Foster