Ray F Fortney

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Killed in Action (KIA). B-24 A/C# 4210155 'Heavenly Body'. Lost engine over target and fell out of formation. Lost another engine and ditched in channel. Water rough and AC cartwheeled upon hitting water. Only 2 crewmen saved. Last operational losses for unit.

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Units served with

A Pathfinder B-24 Liberator (V2-P+, serial number 42-51691) of the 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '491 BG supplying troops at Arnhem, Sept 1944.'

491st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Robert H Siek

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 855th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-827744
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-110155

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Heavenly Body
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 855th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

North Sea 30 March 1945 The Group's last operational loss occurred on the 30 March mission to Wilhelmshaven. 2nd Lt. Robert H. Siek, flying the venerable HEAVENLY BODY (42-110155), had been losing altitude constantly on the trip home with an engine out. Ditching finally became inevitable, and the radio operator sent out the word. An Air-Sea Rescue unit was standing by when the plane hit, but the icy North Sea waters took a heavy toll. Only two men were saved.

Born

Kentucky, USA

Buried

No Known Grave Tablet of The Missing Cambridge American Cemetery

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

https://www.abmc.gov/node/539927#.VvW7uGcm6M8

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit history, Combat Chronology