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2nd Lt Robert W. Combs graduated from Jordan High School in Columbus and was employed at Georgia Power Company.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States on 21 January 1942, received his wings in Apri, 1943 and was sent overseas in July 1943.

The plane exploded in mid air. There was a very heavy front over the English Channel when they took off for Münster in the morning. They reached their target and were on their way back. As they were approaching the front, near the coast of the Netherlands, three Focke-Wolf 190´s came out at about four to six hundred yards distance and engaged them, knocking out their No. 3 engine and also starting fire on the left wing. The airplane was strafed its full length and the interphones shot out. The pilot, is believed to have been hit at that time, because the airplane went into a wide bank and then into a spin, after which it exploded. The bombardier and two enlisted men landed in the water and were picked up by Dutch fisherman who were later overtaken by a German patrol boat.

The B-17 was shot down by Oblt Rudolf Leuschel of 8./JG26.

Three men survived and were taken prisoner. Seven men were killed.

The remains of the recovered crew members were initially buried at the cemetery of Rotterdam-Crooswijk.

This was Lt Comb's fourth mission.

Lt Combs is remembered at McDonough Memorial Cemetery in McDonough, Henry County, Georgia with a memorial marker.