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name
YARNELL, Robert H - Date of
birth
3 August 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Lee, Jessamine County, Kentucky -
Hometown
Nicholasville, Jessamine County, Kentucky
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35668792 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
714th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
21 February 1944 - Place of
death
In the Aircraft
Horstel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
James F. Yarnell (father)
Claudia R. (Corman) Yarnell (mother)
Nancy L. Yarnell (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-7768 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: The Proud Wanderlost
Destination:Diepholtz, Germany
MACR: 2469
More information
S/Sgt Robert H. Yarnell worked in a W.P.A. Office in Nicholasville, Kentucky before he enlisted in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio on 28 October 1942.Cloud cover obscured the primary targets, forcing the Group to seek targets of opportunity. Locating Achmer Airfield on the outskirts of Hesepe, the bombs were dropped on the second pass.
German FW-190s shot down two B-24s and damaged several others. At 2:50 PM, exploding 20 millimeter shells killed the Ball Turret Gunner, S/Sgt Yarnell, and wounded the Radio Operator, Sgt Padgett. Sgt Loyd died after falling out of the aircraft without a parachute. The remaining crew survived the crash of the aircraft in the woods outside Horstel, Germany.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - 1920-1940 Census / WWII Enlistment Records / Kentucky Birth Index / Scott/Farrow Family Tree.
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Fred, Billye Sue Watts