Robert George Van Dragt
MilitaryRobert 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
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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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-679006
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Date: 8 October 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | 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
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity.
MACR 868
US CENSUS 1930
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
http://www.306bg.us/
Highlands County, Florida obituaries
MACR 868 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database