Individual Personnel Data
| Name |
Burnes, Robert Oliver ‡
|
| Rank |
Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant |
| Serial Number |
39604984 ‡ |
| Unit Assignments |
Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, effective 1 February 1943. |
| Duty |
Engineer / Top Turret Gunner |
| MOS | 748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer |
| Last Duty Date |
25 July 1943 |
| Results |
Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11 |
| Decorations | Awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 25 July 1943 per General Orders #27, AAF Regional & Convalescent Hospital, Fort George Wright, Washington dated 25 October 1945. |
| Additional Information | |
| Related Documents |
Post Loss Document File #8⇗ |
| Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
| CREWMEMBER |
POSITION |
RESULTS |
| 2nd Lt. Halseth, Edwin Scofield⇗ | Pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Fabian, Stephen Ralph⇗ | Co-pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. McGeehan, William F⇗ | Navigator | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Deignan, Charles Joseph⇗ | Bombardier | POW |
| S/SGT. Kay, David Eli⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | POW |
| S/SGT. Burnes, Robert Oliver | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | POW |
| SGT. Delmonte, Frank L⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | POW |
| SGT. Bagdis, John Stanley⇗ | Tail Gunner | POW |
| S/SGT. Pollard, Walter Maxwell⇗ | Flexible Gunner | POW |
| SGT. Forster, August Richard⇗ | Flexible Gunner | TR |
Crew History The Halseth Crew joined the 544th BS at Wendover on 1 February 1943. Identified as "Crew #1" on the assignment order, they became the first "Crew #42" in the squadron.
Before moving to England, Forster was replaced by S/Sgt Donald A Rutan. Co-pilot Fabian was shot down while flying with the John R Way crew on his first mission - he had been bumped from the Halseth Crew because the Squadron CO, Maj Nuttall, had chosen to fly with Halseth (who aborted because they lost the formation in weather). The remaining crew members were lost on 25 July 1943. All members of this crew became POWs, except for Forster, whose disposition is not known. |
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 3
Combat Missions.
| Number |
Date |
Target |
Position |
Aircraft |
Mission/Sortie Information |
|
2⇗ |
25 June 1943 |
Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany |
Engineer/Top Turret |
42‑30039⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron lead. Returned to base due to weather conditions; pilot was unable to maintain contact with the formation.
Sortie Report⇗ |
|
3⇗ |
26 June 1943 |
Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France |
Engineer/Top Turret |
42‑30039⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗ |
|
4⇗ |
28 June 1943 |
Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Engineer/Top Turret |
42‑30142⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back with problems in #1 and #2 engines.
Sortie Report⇗ |
|
5⇗ |
29 June 1943 |
Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France |
Engineer/Top Turret |
42‑5849⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back due to #1 engine failure.
Sortie Report⇗ |
|
6⇗ |
4 July 1943 |
Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France |
Engineer/Top Turret |
42‑30039⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back when pilot became ill.
Sortie Report⇗ |
|
7⇗ |
10 July 1943 |
Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France |
Engineer/Top Turret |
42‑30039⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead Group. Turned back because #2 engine began to 'miss and vibrate' so it was feathered.
Sortie Report⇗ |
|
9⇗ |
24 July 1943 |
Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway |
Engineer/Top Turret |
42‑30039⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗ |
|
10⇗ |
25 July 1943 |
Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany |
Engineer/Top Turret |
42‑3069⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Disabled by enemy action over target; details unknown; crashed in Hamburg, Germany area. No MACR
Sortie Report⇗ |
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