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name
RAHN, Robert Earl - Date of
birth
22 June 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Milledgeville, Carroll County, Illinois -
Hometown
Carroll County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36736740 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
366th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 May 1944 - Place of
death
Baltic Sea, off the coast of Sassnitz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 31 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Earl H. Rahn (father)
Pearl R. (Roberts) Rahn (mother)
June I. Rahn (sister)
Max A. Rahn (brother)
Cecil E. Rahn (sister)
Eldon R. Rahn (brother)
Ruth Rahn (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-38176 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Our Baby
Destination: Cottbus, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Focke-Wulf aviation industry
MACR: 5337
More information
T/Sgt Robert E. Rahn graduated from Milledgeville Community High School in 1942.He enlisted on February 1942 and was called into service shortly after graduation. He was sent overseas on 4 April 1944.
The aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters just after the target. It kept in the formation untill 14.22 hours, at 5455N-1330E, where ten parachutes were seen to come out. Immediately after, the aircraft went out of control, lost altitude, and hit the water, and exploded. All ten parachutes landed in the water close to land and several boats were seen nearby. Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner, eight men were killed. The deceased men that could be recovered were buried at the New Cemetery of Wiek on Rügen Island on 30 May 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - orderofreason