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name
SHELDON, Robert M - Date of
birth
January 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Hammond, Lake County, Indiana -
Hometown
Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-734143 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
360th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 June 1943 - Place of
death
Borgsweer, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 20 | 4 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John E. Sheldon (father)
Gretta A. Sheldon (mother)
Glen T. Sheldon (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5390 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: The Avenger
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the shipyards
More information
2nd Lt Robert M. Sheldon attended the University of Wisconsin.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 2 March 1942.
Because the primary target at Hamburg was obscured by clouds, scattered attacks were made on targets of opportunity in northwest Germany.
The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters. Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner, seven men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 / U.S. School Yearbooks, University of Wisconsin
Photo source: Wendy Lensink, 303rd Bomb Group, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot 42-K Minter California