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Stearns, Robert Sumner

Individual Personnel Data
Name Stearns, Robert Sumner   
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-761314   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #113 dated 15 June 1944, effective 15 June 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 28 September 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno: California
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 25 August 1923
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Deming AAF, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Class #43-17, 12 April 1943.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 9753 (23.666 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Durdin, Larkin ClaytonPilotCT
2nd Lt. Carlson, Walter ElmerCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Stearns, Robert SumnerBombardierKIA
SGT. Ellis, Clayton JohnRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Randall, Frank AbbottEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Morris, Edward PaulBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Hammond, Ralph Clark, JrTail GunnerTR
SGT. Eltzroth, Porter J (IO)Flexible GunnerINT
SGT. Thulin, Theodore ClemenceFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 17 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
142 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bombardier 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
145 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany
Bombardier 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
146 25 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France
Bombardier 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy, low group 41st A wing.
Sortie Report
147 27 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Storage Depot)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Saint-Martin-L'Hortier, France
Bombardier 43‑37703 Combat Mission Credit
41st A section.
Sortie Report
148 28 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France
Bombardier 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st B wing. Landed away at Boxted, AAF Station 150, on return due to weather.
Sortie Report
153 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Bombardier 44‑6141 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group, 41st B wing. Lost group in heavy clouds; returned to base.
Sortie Report
154 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France
Bombardier 42‑107224 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report
156 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Bombardier 43‑37703 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
160 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany
Bombardier 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
166 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Bombardier 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
167 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Bombardier 44‑6141 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, low group 41st B wing.
Sortie Report
175 8 August 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France
Bombardier 44‑6109 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, high group.
Sortie Report
177 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France
Bombardier 42‑97282 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
182 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium
Bombardier 43‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
186 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France
Bombardier 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
196 19 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany
Bombardier 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report
200 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Bombardier 42‑102449 Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
201 28 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Magdeburg, Germany
Bombardier 43‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Collided with 42‑31222 over target: Wallace Storey related details of the collision in Decker's Memories (2nd edition, page 169). Both ships went down on fire and out of control; no chutes; crashed near Osteringersleben, Germany; MACR 9753.
Sortie Report

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