Robert Zeno Grimes

Military

Served in the AF for 30 years.



Shot down 20 Oct 1943 in B -17 'Shack Rabbit III', a B-17 on loan from 413th Squadron. Hit by fighters, crashed near Hirson, Belgium. Evaded (EVD) - Escape & Evasion Report E&E 361. Learned that 4 of his crew were killed in action and that five others had survived the crash. 'You never stop thinking about it. '



After receiving medical attention for a leg wound, with the help of the Belgian Comete evasion organization, he went by foot, bicycle and train to the Spanish border. Basque guides took him and others, including Bombardier 2nd Lt Lloyd A. Stanford and Co-Pilot Jim F. Burch (both on B-17 42-3539 of 385th BG/550th BS - MIA 10/10/1943) on an overnight hike in the freezing rain through the Pyrenees and into Spain before dawn Dec 24, pursued by Spanish patrols. Jim Burch drowned in the crossing of the Bidassoa River, a natural border between France and Spain. Bob Grimes was back in England on 30 January 1944.



See the pages for him and the crews of 42-30372 and 42-3539 at www.evasioncomete.be >>> search on the aircraft serials or on the names.

Robert Grimes' awards : Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Purple Heart, AF Commendation Medal, and many more.

Peter Eisner has written a book about Robert Grimes' evasion : "The Freedom Line", first published in 2004 by William Morrow/Harper Collins.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17062836 and O-678500
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner / Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11066504
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35335090
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18075384 and O-747132
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32439050
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Shack Rabbit III
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Portsmouth, Virginia 24 November 1922

Enlisted

Richmond, Virginia, United States 11 March 1942 Enlisted as a Private in the Air Corps

Other

Evaded Capture

20 October 1943

Died

Fort Belvoir, Virginia, United States 21 April 2010

Buried

Portsmouth, Virginia, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Updated website address in Bio

Date
ContributorruthmcdUS
Changes
Sources

Ruth McD

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include information from : Combat Chronology; Snetterton Falcons pg 76; MACR 1017 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1017 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Addition of book reference

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
MACR 1017
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 361

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000/ MACR 1017; Snetterton Falcons, pg 59