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Personal info

Full name
STRAYER, Robert M
Date of birth
15 January 1924
Age
21
Place of birth
South Fork, Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Cambria County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
T-003838
Rank
Flight Officer
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
366th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Died non-Battle
Date of death
22 September 1945
Place of death
Montenaken, near St. Trond, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
H 15 24

Immediate family

Members
Charles Strayer Sr. (father)
Lola I. Strayer (mother)
Charles Strayer (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-8477
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Can Do

More information

F/O Robert M. Strayer was a chemist.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Altoona, Pennsylvania on 10 December 1942.

The B-17 of Maj Brooks Jr. took off from Advanced Landing Ground A-92, also known as St. Trond Airfield on the 21 September 1945 at 20.33 hours for a routine night flight of approximately 5 hours. The B-17 crashed at 01.30 hours at Montenaken while trying to land under instrument conditions resulting in the complete destruction of the aircraft. Different witnesses at Montenaken saw the aircraft on fire just before the crash. An American soldier from an Ordnance Ammunition Company on patrol in Montenaken didn´t see the crash but declared he heard shortly before the crash the motors of the plane cut off and immediately the crash afterwards.

The crash was investigated and it is believed that the fire was a result of material failure. The most likely cause being a failure in the fuel system, electical system or oxygen system is a possibility.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Louis E. Martinage