Robert James Gibbs
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Object Number - UPL 46164 - Morris F. Swavel Crew 390th BG - 568th BS - 8th AF Standing Left to Right: Frank C. Bobrowicz (RO), William L. Walker (FE), Alec Gwazdosky (WG),...
Robert Gibbs was Right Waist gunner on board B-17 #42-39819, hit by Flak on return from the 13 April 1944 mission to Augsburg, Germany. Ditched in the Channel/North Sea, about 18km West of the entrance to the port of Ostend, Belgium. Killed In Action (KIA). On 8 May 1944, his body was found in Ostend, Belgium and he was buried the next day at the English Military Cemetery in Koksijde. His remains were later transferred to the Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium.
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32686782
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade)
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-693672
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 6149248
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-807918
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32829895
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade)
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hells Bells
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Rovin’ romona ii/big friend
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Anoxia Queen
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 13 April 1944
- Date: 12 April 1944
- Date: 11 April 1944
- Date: 10 April 1944
- Date: 8 April 1944
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 |
Waterville, Maine, USA | 14 May 1924 | |
|
Enlisted |
Portland, ME | 4 December 1942 | |
|
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
English Channel, approx. 12 miles off the coast of Ostend, Belgium | 13 April 1944 | in the crash of B-17 #42-39819 in the Channel, about 15km West of the entrance to the port of Ostend, Belgium |
|
Other Body Recovered |
Ostend, Belgium | 8 May 1944 | his body floated ashore in Ostend, Belgium |
|
Buried |
Koksijde, Belgium | 9 May 1944 | at the English Military Cemetery in Koksijde, Belgium |
| Waterville, ME | Kennebec County, Maine | ||
|
Buried |
Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial | Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium Plot D Row 3 Grave 2 |
Revisions
Updated Middle Name & a Born event per info in the Fields of Honor Database.
SOURCE: https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemete…
Award - ABMC website
MACR 3947
NARA WWII Enlistment records
AV 934/44 file ("Amerikaner Vorgaenge") at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6922023
ABMC website
Corrected KIA date in Bio
MACR 3947
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3947 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
