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Personal info

Full name
WAGNER, Robert C
Date of birth
22 May 1920
Age
23
Place of birth
Bell County, Kentucky
Hometown
Pike County, Kentucky

Military service

Service number
15040690
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
548th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 May 1944
Place of death
Langenhain-Ziegenberg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
O 2 15

Immediate family

Members
Edward M. Wagner (father)
Gladys F. (Smith) Wagner (mother)
Kathryn Wagner (sister)
James E. Wagner (brother)
Paul K. Wagner (brother)
Mary S. Wagner (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31787
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Zwickau, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the August Horch Motorwagenwerke Industry
MACR: 4879

More information

T/Sgt Robert C. Wagner was a chauffeur.

He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army at Fort Thomas, Newport, Kentucky on 3 July 1940.

At 1240 hours in the area west of Coburg, Germany, the airplane was rammed in mid-air by an enemy fighter. On impact both aircraft exploded and went down. No parachutes were sighted and it is the pre-samption of those observing the crash that it is inconceivable that any members of the crew of 42-31787 could have gotten out of the aircraft before it struck the earth. The airplane crashed into the community forest of Langenhain-Ziegenberg, near the road to Adlerhorst, 3 km west of the town.

Nine crew members were killed, one was taken prisoner. T/Sgt Wagner was initially buried at the community cemetery of Langenhain.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch,www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Stichting Adoptie Graven Amerikaanse Begraafplaats Margraten