Robert George Van Dragt

Military

Robert G. Van Dragt was Radio Operator and flew his first mission on 15 August 1943 with pilot Ferdinand Otten, the pilot he flew most of his missions with. He was on B-17 #42-29985 with the Ledgerwood crew when it was shot down over Germany on the Bremen mission, 8 October 1943. Prisoner of War (POW).

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

306th Bomb Group

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

367th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

John G Acker

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-679006
Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Harvey D Cooke

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Andrew A Fila

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Paul J George

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-471623
Highest Rank: Major
Role/Job: Assistant Group Engineer Officer; Squadron Executive

Thomas D Ledgerwood

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 20842063 at enlistment, then O-791459
Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-29985

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Kathleen | Barrel House Bessie
Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron

Missions

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 388th Bomb Group fly over Nazi smoke screens. Printed caption on reverse: '73228 AC- The Nazis have released smoke screens in an effort to hide their railroad yards as Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" fly over the target at Bremen, Germany, prior to the release of the bombs. 8 October 1943.'

VIII Bomber Command 111

Date: 8 October 1943

Places

Kimbolton

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event	Date	Description
Born	6 June 1921	Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of Arthur and Lydia (Lincoln) Van Gracht
Enlisted	25 July 1942	Kalamazoo, Michigan
Other bailed out	8 October 1943	of B-17 42-29985 and landed in Germany
Other Prisoner of War (POW)	8 October 1943	Interned at Stalag XVIIB near Krems, Austria. NARA WWII POW records : "Returned to Military Control on 10 August 1945."
Died	5 March 2007	Sebring, Highlands County, Florida
		Georgetown Township, Ottawa County, Michigan
Buried		Robert Van Dragt rests at the Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Avon Park, Highlands County, Florida

Revisions

Date21 Apr 2020 03:11:42

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Removed an extra "the" from the Summary biography.

Date17 Feb 2020 05:05:20

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date16 Feb 2019 09:52:14

ContributorED-BB

Changes

Sources

MACR 868
US CENSUS 1930
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
http://www.306bg.us/
Highlands County, Florida obituaries

Date27 Sep 2014 18:24:14

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

MACR 868 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database