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name
STEPHENS, Robert Marvin - Date of
birth
21 December 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Georgia -
Hometown
Manchester, Meriwether County, Georgia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
14119664 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
711th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
15 March 1945 - Place of
death
Perleberg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 12 | 18 |
Immediate family
-
Members
R.W. Stephens (father)
Clara (Wilkins) Stephens (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6016 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: TNT Katie
Destination: Oranienburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 13045
More information
S/Sgt Robert M. Stephens attended college and was a retail manager at F.W. Woolworth.He volunteered for the Army of the United States at Fort McPherson, Georgia, on 25 May 1942.
The aircraft received a direct flak burst under the pilot's compartment and nose. The plane broke in half at the top turret. Crew members of two aircraft saw four parachutes, and three aircraft reported three parachutes. The two aircraft (4 and 5) closest to TNT Katie reported no parachutes. Another airplane reported it was on fire and saw one parachute. They left the formation 10 to 12 minutes past the target on their way home near Perleberg.
Bombardier 2nd Lt Sidney Murachver was blown out of the plane. Pilot 1st Lt Henry D. Chandler fell out of the plane before it hit the ground, and Navigator 1st Lt David Skalka bailed out. The rest of the crew (six men) were killed in the crash.
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.fold3.com, Peter Schouteten