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Personal info

Full name
ROBY, George Thomas
Date of birth
6 January 1917
Age
27
Place of birth
West Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana
Hometown
Vigo County, Indiana

Military service

Service number
16011673
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
602nd Bombardment Squadron,
398th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
28 October 1944
Place of death
Farm Schoonebeck and highroad Nienburg/Roxel
Nienberge, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Raymond J. Roby (father)
Gertrude B. (Liggett) Roby (mother)
Shannon D. Roby (brother)
John W. Roby (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-6519
Data
Typ0e: B-17G
Destination: Munster, Germany
Mission: Bombing Marshalling yards
MACR: 10175

More information

Statement concerning Missing aircraft B-17G 44-6519, Pilot, 2nd Lt Harry J. Connolly, O-768457, 602nd BS, 398th BG Hv on Combat Mission to Munster, Gemany.
I saw a 105 mm shell glance up the right side of Lt Connolly´s fuselage just in front of the tail wheel position. About half way up it exploded and the entire tail started to buckle and the ship started to dive at an angle of about thirty degrees. I saw no parachutes.
The ship exploded in mid-air and burned after the crash.

Source of information: Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com

Photo source: Donald Roby, Peter Schouteten