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Personal info

Full name
SIEVERS, Robert Leroy
Date of birth
22 August 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Illinois
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
36614062
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
450th Bombardment Squadron,
322nd Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
16 April 1945
Place of death
South of Wittenberg, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
George Sievers (father)
Emma Sievers (mother)
Regina Sievers (sister)
George Sievers (brother)
Betty I. Sievers (sister)
Lucy Sievers (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-96225
Data
Type: B-26B-55
Destination: Wittenberg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad station
MACR: 14463

More information

He is remembered at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Will County,
Illinois.

Statement of Donald E. SHEPHERD, O-704507, 1st Lt., 450th Bomb Squadron:
"I was flying as co-pilot in the aircraft leading the flight. The lost aircraft was flying on our left wing. I first observed Lt. Dow's aircraft as we turned off the target and his plane came directly under ours. The plane was in a steep dive and smoke was coming from its tail. Later I saw flames come out of the left side of the plane. At the same time I saw one chute leave the aircraft and blessom out. Diving earthward the plane made a shallow turn to the left and hit in the center of a small town. The aircraft exploded immediately upon hitting the ground."

The plane received a direct hit from antiaircraft fire and crashed into a house at Muhlanger, 1 mile south east of Wittenberg. In December 1948 the wreckage could be located, however no trace could be found of the remains of the decaesed crew members. It is believed that their remains were totally destroyed by the ensuing fire since the plane and the house burned completely.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com, IDPF of Dwight K. Booth

Photo source: J. Edward Ross - www.findagrave.com, Peter Schouteten, Scott Wilson