Robert Fred Banta
Military
Object Number - UPL 32222 - T/Sgt R F Banta of the 390th Bomb Group, wearing the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal, 5-Jan-44 England.
Assigned to 568BS, 390BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew on a total 25 x missions. On 24-Aug-43 B-17 42-30308 'Hot Rocks' ditched in Channel. Mechanical failure. Returned to base.
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), GC, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x battle star), American campaign.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hot Rocks
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron 570th Bomb Squadron
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Green Bay, WI | 12 April 1920 | Son of John C Banta. |
|
Enlisted |
Wisconsin | 15 October 1940 | Wisconsin |
|
Other Returned (RTD) |
English Channel | 24 August 1943 | On 24-Aug-43 B-17 42-30308 'Hot Rocks' ditched in Channel. Mechanical failure. Returned to base. |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
18 September 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
Dodgeville, WI | 21 May 2003 | |
|
Buried |
Suamico Public Cemetery Suamico, Brown County, WI | 24 May 2003 | Suamico Public Cemetery Suamico, Brown County, Wisconsin |
|
Based |
Framlingham | Assigned to 568BS, 390BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Changes to awards in Bio Field
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84814811/robert-fred-banta
NARA files verified rank and he's wearing the GCM in the photo. He earned at least one bronze star device on the EAME Campaign Medal.
https://www.fold3.com/record/46967471/robert-f-banta-social-security-de…
https://www.fold3.com/record/618304757/robert-banta-1920-veterans-affai…
https://www.fold3.com/record/712059884/banta-robert-fred-u-s-veterans-g…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84814811/robert-fred-banta
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Key Image ID.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 393 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
