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Personal info

Full name
BLACK, Robert Wayland
Date of birth
23 October 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Hometown
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California

Military service

Service number
O-763044
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
95th Fighter Squadron,
82nd Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
20 November 1944
Place of death
About 5 miles south of Brataslava, Hungary

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 19 15

Immediate family

Members
Louis R Black (father)
Gladys Black (mother)
Douglas C Black (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-23210
Data
Type: P-38J
Nickname: Jersey Bounce
Destination: Southeast of Vienna, Austria
MACR: 9935

More information

2Lt Robert W Black was employed at Lockhead Aircraft Co.

Lt Black was flying on a strafing mission along roads and railroads east of Vienna on 20 November 1944. He was going down to strafe a train. It had 2 or 3 flak cars attached and they opened up. Lieutenant Black's left engine was hit and his plane set afire. He feathered up, but it kept burning. He flew 3 or 4 minutes when he appeared to lose control and went in a spin. The plane blew up on impact.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, WWIIMemorial.com, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot 44-A, Williams Field, Arizona