Birckhead, Robert Bruce

Individual Personnel Data
Name Birckhead, Robert Bruce   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-810804   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #72 dated 16 April 1944, effective 16 April 1944.
Duty Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 5 October 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Virginia: Section 34, Grave 2239
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 18 August 1922
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 9754⇓ (41.261 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Birckhead, Robert BrucePilotKIA
2nd Lt. Hailey, Millie Zo, Jr⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Hedrick, Hilary Hann⇗NavigatorKIA
2nd Lt. Marks, Sanford (NMI), "Sandy"⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Bridgeman, John Joseph, Jr⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Lusk, Clarence Leon⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Brugman, Duane Francis⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Fauser, Frank George, Jr⇗Tail GunnerCT
S/SGT. Booth, George Totten⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Carboni, James (NMI), "Vin"⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 31 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑32106⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
95⇗ 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102518⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
96⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Pilot 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
97⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Pilot 42‑97521⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
98⇗ 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑97188⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑37758.
Sortie Report⇗
100⇗ 4 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑107148⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37758⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
102⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑97404⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
107⇗ 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland 		Pilot 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
109⇗ 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
113⇗ 23 May 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Pilot 42‑102442⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
41A Group Flying Spare.
Sortie Report⇗
114⇗ 24 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Military Installations
Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102442⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
116⇗ 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
118⇗ 28 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37758⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Deputy (original assignment). However, he became separated from the 384th formation. He joined the Low Squadron of the Lead Group (303rd BG) as #7; released bombs on target but didn't arm them due to a blown fuse.
Sortie Report⇗
119⇗ 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
120⇗ 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
124⇗ 3 June 1944 Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
125⇗ 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
126⇗ 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
127⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Rocket Gun Installation
Type: Military
Location: 'Meuvaines' (actually, 1.3 miles SE of Crépon), France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
130⇗ 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
131⇗ 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
132⇗ 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France 		Pilot 42‑97941⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Ground Spare Aircraft. Replaced 42‑32106.
Sortie Report⇗
133⇗ 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
134⇗ 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back over Deenethorpe when #4 engine caught fire and could not be feathered.
Sortie Report⇗
136⇗ 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
138⇗ 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
139⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Pilot 42‑32106⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
140⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
144⇗ 22 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lille (Fives district), France 		Pilot 42‑97271⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
203⇗ 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑37971⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
204⇗ 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑37971⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
205⇗ 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Pilot 43‑38579⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Low Squadron. Shot down by FLAK.
Sortie Report⇗

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