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name
THORSEN, Robert Edward - Date of
birth
12 November 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-765755 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
419th Bombardment Squadron,
301st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
26 July 1944 - Place of
death
Near Langenwang, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 48 | 31 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Harold Thorsen Sr. (father)
Ragnhild Thorsen (mother)
Esther Thorsen (sister)
Harriett Thorsen (sister)
Norma Thorsen (sister)
Harold Thorsen (brother)
Margaret Thorsen (sister)
Eimoer Thorsen (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102915 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Wiener Neudorf, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 7123
More information
2nd Lt Robert E. Thorsen attended high school for 4 years before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 21 August 1942.2nd Lt Paul E. Gerhart:
"Plane #42-102915 was flying in 2-1 position of the low-left squadron. It was hit by several enemy fighters at 1105 hours. The #3 and #4 engines were both burning, and about three feet of the left wing was shot away. The right stabilizer was shott off about three-quarters of the way to the body, and flames could be seen inside the nose of the plane. The plane peeled off and went down and out of my line of vision, and I saw no parachutes emerge from the aircraft. The exact coordinates were 47.50 N - 15.50 E. The time was 1105 hours, and the weather was solid under cast with alter stratus clouds built up on all sides of the formation."
1st Lt Harold N. Tenenbom:
"I believe that his chute failed to open. From what I could gather from civilian woman she saw one fall without chute."
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Jul.44.html
Photo source: -