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name
NEWSOME, Robert Stanley - Date of
birth
2 December 1925 -
Age
18 -
Place of birth
Portsmouth, Virginia -
Hometown
New Kent County, Virginia -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33852353 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
848th Bombardment Squadron,
490th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 November 1944 - Place of
death
Stockhausen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| J | 17 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Lincoln Newsome (father)
Margaret M. (Brinson) Newsome (mother)
Marjorie Newsome (sister)
Lincoln Newsome Jr. (brother)
Everett B. Newsome (brother)
Kathleen E. Newsome (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37886 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Pennsy Belle
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna synthetic oil plant
MACR: 10759
More information
Sgt Robert S. Newsome graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and was employed at Office Terminal of Seaboard Airlines Rail Road.He enlisted in February 1944 and was sent overseas in October 1944.
After completing the bomb run, the aircraft fell behind but after the formation had turned from the target, it seemed to be catching up. It was escorted by fighters to a point 45 miles west of Frankfurt am Main, at which point parachutes were seen to leave the airplane.
Nine crew members were taken prisoner, Sgt Newsome was the only casualty
According to S/Sgt Omar H Scheidt, a surviving crew member, Sgt Newsome bailed out and his parachute had opened. In Badhomberg, while in custody of the German guards, a small boy approached him and said his "comrade" had drowned in a nearby lake.
In fact, Sgt Newsome had landed in the Lahn River that had a high water level at that time. His remains were found by playing German children on 24 February 1945 in the Lahn River, close to the railroad bridge near Leun, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Claudio Becker, Terry Hirsch, MACR 10759, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, 490thBomber Group, The Portsmouth Star - 6 December 1945