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name
BONNAR, Robert Wheadon - Date of
birth
18 April 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Schenectady County, New York -
Hometown
Altadena, Los Angeles Coiunty, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-711119 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
566th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
3 February 1945 - Place of
death
600 meters north of Ohlendorf, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 24 | 19 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Benjamin Bonnar (father)
Alys E (Wheadon) Bonnar (mother)
Roberta Bonnar (sister)
Jeanne Bonnar (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50551 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Delectable Doris
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 12370
More information
1st Lt Robert W. Bonnar was employed at the Douglas Aircraft Co.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at Buckley Field, Colorado on 18 February 1943.
The airplane was hit by flak in the pilots compartment and nose. It was observed to go into a dive, but was pulled out of it. Then it went into a slow roll from which it was pulled out again and then started weaving. Crew members of other bombers in the formation saw nine parachutes leaving the plane before the bombs burst and the ship blew up. Parts of the airplane were cratered in an area of 5000 meters by 500 meters.
Lt. Bonnar was initially buried at the cemetery of Salzgitter on 4 February 1945.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-B, Lubbock, Texas