Robert Kenneth Poe

Military
A crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 25th Bomb Group. Veteran's caption handwritten on reverse: 'Back Row- Left to Right Edward Corner Tail Gunner (Deceased)- Sam Odensky RDG- Donald Yennie Engineer (Status Unknown) The Hawk RAF) 1st Row Kneeling L to R Warren Forgie (Pilot), Earnest York (Co-Pilot), Edward Sofranko (Navigator), Robert Poe (Ball Gunner) (Edward York Died Oct 15, 1988 Heart Attack).' media-378773.jpg FRE 597 A crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 25th Bomb Group. Veteran's caption handwritten on reverse: 'Back Row- Left to Right Edward Corner Tail Gunner (Deceased)- Sam Odensky RDG- Donald Yennie Engineer (Status Unknown) The Hawk RAF) 1st Row Kneeling L to R Warren Forgie (Pilot), Earnest York (Co-Pilot), Edward Sofranko (Navigator), Robert Poe (Ball Gunner) (Edward York Died Oct 15, 1988 Heart Attack).' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 597 - A crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 25th Bomb Group. Veteran's caption handwritten on reverse: 'Back Row- Left to Right Edward Corner Tail Gunner...

Assigned to 652BS, 25BG, 8AF USAAF. 40 x missions; 1230 hours in B-17; 540 hours of combat time. 8 medals



Awards: AM (4OLC), WWII Victory, American Campaign, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).



Post War: Employed with the CIA until retirement.

Connections

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Units served with

A B-26 Marauder of the 654th Bomb Squadron, 25th Bomb Group, parked on a runway. Handwritten on reverse: '654 BS.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Reconnaissance

People

A crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 25th Bomb Group. Veteran's caption handwritten on reverse: 'Back Row- Left to Right Edward Corner Tail Gunner (Deceased)- Sam Odensky RDG- Donald Yennie Engineer (Status Unknown) The Hawk RAF) 1st Row Kneeling L to R Warren Forgie (Pilot), Earnest York (Co-Pilot), Edward Sofranko (Navigator), Robert Poe (Ball Gunner) (Edward York Died Oct 15, 1988 Heart Attack).'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 652nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Bloomington, IL 20 August 1922 Son of George E and Margaret Lee [Heck] Cain.

Enlisted

Peoria, IL 29 December 1942 Peoria, Illinois

Died

15 October 2017 Obituary:- "Bob flew 40 combat missions as an Armor Gunner on the B-17 aircraft in European Theater of Operations in the year 1945. After the war, the 25th Bomb Group (RCN) Association, Inc. was formed. Bob held office as President, 1st & 2nd Vice President, and published the "Bulletin Board" newsletter for this association. The association donated a beautiful granite memorial bench in 1994 to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patt Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Bob and his wife Liz facilitated the design and production of this memorial bench. After working for the Corp. of Engineers, post-war, Robert had a fascinating career in Top Secret Logistics, working for the U.S. Government at Wright-Patt Air Force Base for 39 years. After retiring, Bob volunteered in the 8th Air Force Control Tower at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio for six years, greeting and informing visitors from around the world. Bob is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, and his daughter and son-in-law, along with his "grand dog" Carlie. He is also survived by his nephew and niece. Bob was predeceased by his parents; two sisters; three brothers; and his niece and also, his beloved "grand dog" Chelsey. In addition to flying, Bob enjoyed golfing, bowling, baseball, table tennis, traveling & dancing with his wife & daughter, automobiles, meeting family & friends for breakfast, and walks with his grand dog Chelsey."

Buried

Sarasota National Cemetery Sarasota, Sarasota County, FL 18 October 2017 Sarasota National Cemetery Sarasota, Sarasota County, Florida

Based

Watton Assigned to 652BS, 25BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Removed source information added by Wattonman from biography

Date
ContributorWattonman
Changes
Sources

Norman Malayney, "The 25th Bomb Group (Rcn) in WWII" Schiffer Publications Ltd. 2011.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self; Aerial Intelligence of the 8th Air Force, pg 33 (photo)

Robert Kenneth Poe: Gallery (2 items)