Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
SHAFER, Robert Thomas - Date of
birth
31 March 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Williamsport, Lycoming, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13090848 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
412th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
29 July 1944 - Place of
death
Near Lathen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Herbert T. Shafer (father)
Emma L. (Yarrison) Shafer (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30150 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Exterminator
Destination: Oscherleben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Ago / Focke-Wulf - aircraft industry
MACR: 214
More information
T/Sgt Robert T. Shafer was an actor.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on 2 July 1942.
The airplane was attacked by enemy aircraft and exploded. According to witnesses, one parachute was seen to open. The entire crew of ten was killed and is remembered at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten. Their remains were never found.
The mission took place on 28 July 1943. The entire crew was officially declared dead one year and one day after they were reported missing in action.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Ria Besseling.