Robert L Mains
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Standing, left to right: Sgt Charles H Daman, Sgt Charles E. Cupp Jr, Sgt Anthony C. Villari, T/Sgt Frank S. Merkovich, Sgt Antonio Munoz Jr, S/Sgt Harry J. Allen.
Kneeling left to right: Lt John W. Johnson, Lt Robert L. Mains, Lt John Hankin, Lt Allen L. Lake.
Courtesy of the family of Sergeant Charles H Daman.
Family of John W. Johnson
Object Number - UPL 31923 - Training photo of pilot Lt. Robert L. Mains' crew. Standing, left to right: Sgt Charles H Daman, Sgt Charles E. Cupp Jr, Sgt Anthony C. Villari,...
Mains was killed in action (KIA) while flying B-24 Liberator #44-50838 on 4 April 1945. He was taking part in a mission to attack German bases at Parchim, Perleberg and Wesendorf, when his aircraft encountered enemy fighters over Hamburg.
Mains' aircraft exploded as a result of the attack. One of the members of Mains' crew survived and was able to identify 8 of the 9 fallen airmen, with the exception of Mains.
In 1997 the POW MIA accounting agency investigated the location of the crash site of Mains' aircraft. In 2014 and 2015 they carried out excavations which uncovered bone fragments which were positively identified as belonging to Mains as a result of DNA analysis. Mains' remains were returned to his family in 2017.
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH.
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: 448th Bomb Group 714th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18116883 / O-869037
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Observer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 714th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39621301
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 714th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36854167
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 714th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-776565
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 714th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2060318
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 4 April 1945
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, The Netherlands
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Rochester, NY | 9 October 1917 | Son of William J and Delia Z [La Salle] Mains. |
|
Enlisted |
New York City, NY | 15 April 1942 | New York City, New York. |
|
Other Crashed |
Calais, France | 3 October 1944 | Crashed October 3rd, 1944 on 2nd mission to Pforzheim, Germany, and crashed later in Calais, France. Returned to Seething one week later |
|
Died |
Near Ludwigslust, Germany | 4 April 1945 | |
|
Buried |
Tablets of the Missing Netherlands American Cemetery Magratten, Netherlands | ||
|
Buried Remains Recovered |
Calverton National CemeteryCalverton, Suffolk County, NY | Interred Calverton National Cemetery Calverton, Suffolk County, NY | |
|
Buried |
Holy Sepulchre CemeteryRochester, Monroe County, NY | Memorialised Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Rochester, Monroe County, NY |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 13730
