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 Clayton⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Carlson, Walter Elmer⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Stearns, Robert SumnerBombardierKIA
SGT. Ellis, Clayton John⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Randall, Frank Abbott⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Morris, Edward Paul⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Hammond, Ralph Clark, Jr⇗Tail GunnerTR
SGT. Eltzroth, Porter J (IO)⇗Flexible GunnerINT
SGT. Thulin, Theodore Clemence⇗Flexible 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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