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Personal info

Full name
KOERNER, Robert Karl
Date of birth
7 January 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Dover, Tuscarawas County, Ohio
Hometown
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
35915113
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
751st Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
2 November 1944
Place of death
Near Merseburg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
E 23 35

Immediate family

Members
Frederick E. Koerner (father)
Adelaide K. (Kingsley) Koerner (mother)
Arlene Koerner (sister)
Florence J. Koerner (sister)
Ann (Varga) Koerner (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
43-37766
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Dolores
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil plants
MACR: 10318

More information

S/Sgt Robert K. Koerner college and was a salesman at the Manifold Company before he enlisted in Cleveland, Ohio on 2 September 1943.

Approximately 40 enemy aircraft bounced group at about 1248 to 1258, 17 to 27 minutes after bombs away, in area between above coordinates. They attacked from the tail between 5 and 8 o’clock. They came in waves, but each of them appeared to single out an individual B-17 to attack. We were hit by German fighters and their fire tore off our tail and left wing.

He was killed instantly in the airplane by enemy fire and he didn’t had a chance to bail out.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.findagrave.com – MAJ Jimmy Cotton
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – JoMarRo, www.ancestry.com – Kristin Cope, www.457thbombgroupassoc.org