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Pfc Robert E. Black enlisted on 6 April 1943, taking his basic training at Camp Mackall where he spent six months before being given furlough. After his furlough, he was transferred to Camp Forrest, Tennessee on maneuvers. In August 1944, he was sent overseas.

He was a passenger in the CG-4A glider with serial number 43-40264.

Statement from Jack Mims, 1st Lt, Air Corps, Asst S-1: "The glider pilots who returned had no knowledge of what had happened to the Pilot and Co-Pilot of this glider, or of the glider.

This glider was released over the landing zone at 1120 hours and was last seen as it entered the smoke of the LZ and was not observed after that."

Further investigation reveals that Report of Evacuation of Remains submitted to the Headquarter by the office of the Division Quartermaster, 17th Airborne Division, lists the names of F/O Everette R. Jones F/O John W. James as having been evacuated through division evacuation channels to the 9th U.S. Army Cemetery located in Margraten, Holland, on 2 April 1945. Both bodies were found buried near the crashed glider and were identified by means of identification tags.

Further review of the records reveal that Sgt Carl M. Faust and Pfc Robert E. Black, both reported killed in action on 24 March 1945 and both passengers of the glider piloted by subject officers, were listed on the same Report of Evacuation of Remains, and were found in the same location. Pfc Catarino N. Hernandez, the third passenger, survived the crash. Those three passengers were members of B Battery of the 155th Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battalion of the 17th Airborne Division.

According to other records, the glider was hit by flak and crashed into the trees.