Robert E Courtney

Military

Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti raid in B-24 42-40364 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'; shot down near the Yugoslavia/Bulgaria border by enemy fighters during withdrawal from the target. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 165



Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), PH, ACM, EAME w/2 campaign stars

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11037168 / O-791098
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - The Pink Elephant - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield

Events

Event Location Date Description

Enlisted

Geiger Field, Spokane, WA 23 January 1942 Entered service from Geiger Field Spokane, WA.

Died

Macedonia (FYROM) 1 August 1943

Buried

12 July 1949 Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Grave 107, Section 15
Spokane, WA, USA

Born

South Dakota

Revisions

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KIA during Operation Tidal Wave.

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NARA verified ASN upon entry.

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NARA file verified awards.

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

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Updated biography information.

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ASN on MACR.

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Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on the 1 Aug 1943 Ploesti raid.

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ContributorLucy May
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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 165