Robert Neale Roberts
MilitaryRear L-R: S/Sgt Rudy Malkin, T/Sgt Elmer A Diethorn, T/Sgt Ward E Simonson, S/Sgt Gordon A Wiggett and S/Sgt Phillip F Lunt.
Front L-R: Lt Robert N Roberts, Capt Lester F Rentmeester, Lt William W Behrend and Lt Joseph T Ashby.
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A10685-A62785AC.
Bob Roberts completed two tours of duty as a Navigator with the 91st Bomb Group in the European Theatre.
On a mission during Big Week on 22 February 1944, Roberts' aircraft B-17 42-39771 nicknamed Jeanie Marie, drifted off course and came under fire from flak. The crew temporarily lost control of the aircraft, but succeeded in stabilising the ship, before it came under more fire from enemy fighters. Further fire caused damaged to one of the engines and splintered the plexiglass nose. Plexiglass fragments severed the power supply to one side of Roberts' heated flight suit, meaning he needed to wear a US Army blanket for the remainder of the mission to keep warm. the damage to the aircraft caused Roberts and his crew to crash land on their return to England, where they were picked up and returned to Bassingbourn.
Upon Roberts' death in 2002, Lester Rentmeester, his pilot, gifted Roberts' painted A-2 flying jacket to IWM.
Awards: AM (10 OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16056182 / O-742603
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Jeannie Marie
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
17 February 1918 | ||
Other Discharged |
1 January 1946 | ||
Died |
23 July 2002 | ||
Enlisted |
|||
Based |
Bassingbourn | First tour of duty |
Revisions
Story by Lester Rentmeester in 91st Bomb Group Newsletter, April 2017
IWM Object file for UNI 13860, Roberts' jacket