Strand, Robert Earl

Individual Personnel Data
Name Strand, Robert Earl
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-810253
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #69 dated 12 April 1944, effective 12 April 1944.
Duty Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 15 August 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
DecorationsAwarded the Distinguished Service Cross for 'extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy' on 20 June 1944.
Awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 20 June 1944 per General Orders #139, Headquarters 1st Bomb Division dated 1 July 1944.
Citation For
Higher Decoration
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS. ROBERT E. STRAND, O-810253, Army Air Forces, United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy, 20 June 1944. On this date Lieutenant Strand was serving as co-pilot on a heavy bomber leading a group on a mission over Germany. On the bombing run the plane was struck by anti-aircraft shells which killed the pilot and seriously wounded the navigator and Lieutenant Strand. Despite the pain of his wounds, Lieutenant Strand, determined to complete the attack, was able to control the plane and finish the bomb run, after which he led the group to an assembly with its wing. Not until the English coast was reached, more than forty minutes after he had been wounded, did he relinquish the lead and permit emergency first aid to be given to him. The outstanding courage of Lieutenant Strand and the determination to lead his group to a successful completion of its mission werre inspiring to his fellow fliers and exemplify the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces. Entered military service from Michigan.

Citation Source: 'As Briefed...'
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 7 June 1924
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty on 10 June 1944 to American Red Cross Club (a Flak House) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #108 dated 9 June 1944.
  • Placed on approximately two days Temporary Duty to AAF Station 586 on or about 8 August 1944, purpose Awards Presentation per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #157 dated 5 August 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Strand, Robert EarlPilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Froebel, Ronald Holcomb⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Umstattd, James McNutt, "Mac"⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Brown, Sherwood Gilbert⇗BombardierCT
T/SGT. Grosbier, Gordon Joseph⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. D'Emilio, Nick Victor⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerTR
SGT. D'Amelio, Vincent Anthony⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Gent, Daniel Barry, Jr⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Neeson, Richard Stanley⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Cain, John Bruce⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 32 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
90⇗ 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
91⇗ 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany 		Pilot 42‑107074⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
92⇗ 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Pilot 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
A Wing, High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
93⇗ 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Pilot 42‑107074⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑107074⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑107083.
Sortie Report⇗
95⇗ 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France 		Pilot 42‑37788⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Number 2 and 4 superchargers failed; unable to keep up with formation.
Sortie Report⇗
97⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Pilot 42‑107074⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
98⇗ 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑97273⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
99⇗ 1 May 1944 Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France 		Pilot 42‑97081⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
100⇗ 4 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑107083⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Oxygen went out two hours after take off.
Sortie Report⇗
102⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102402⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 0815 hrs because pilot became ill.
Sortie Report⇗
105⇗ 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany 		Pilot 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
106⇗ 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Pilot 42‑97273⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
107⇗ 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland 		Pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron, high composite group, 41st CBW.
Sortie Report⇗
109⇗ 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102500⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Group. Turned back at 1155 hrs; couldn't make contact with Group.
Sortie Report⇗
120⇗ 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
122⇗ 2 June 1944 Target: Gun Battery with six 155mm guns, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (5 miles S of Boulogne), France 		Co-pilot 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
125⇗ 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France 		Co-pilot 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
126⇗ 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
128⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France 		Co-pilot 42‑107121⇗ Combat Mission Credit
M Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
130⇗ 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France 		Co-pilot 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
131⇗ 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France 		Co-pilot 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Group, Group Deputy. Ground Spare aircraft, replaced 42‑97139. Bombed Primary Target.
Sortie Report⇗
139⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Co-pilot 42‑97273⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
140⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Co-pilot 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
141⇗ 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102933⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Deputy. Assumed lead after Stallings aborted; Thoma (pilot) killed by flak over target, co-pilot and navigator seriously wounded.
Sortie Report⇗
151⇗ 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France 		Co-pilot 42‑97948⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
153⇗ 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report⇗
154⇗ 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France 		Co-pilot 42‑107121⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
159⇗ 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France 		Pilot 42‑102601⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
160⇗ 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102601⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102601⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron deputy, high group. Turned back due to runaway prop on #2 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
162⇗ 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102601⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
163⇗ 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102601⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
164⇗ 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France 		Pilot 42‑107057⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
165⇗ 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France 		Pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
166⇗ 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
167⇗ 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102601⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, lead group, 41st B wing.
Sortie Report⇗
168⇗ 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Pilot 42‑107057⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗

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