Robert Leo Appell
Military
USAAF Photo
Object Number - UPL 57711 - Sgt Robert L. Appell, 306BG
8th Air Force - USAAF
306th Bomber Group - Reich Wreckers
423rd Bomber Squadron - Grim Reapers
Flew on Marvin Freeman crew. Report ETO Aug 8,1944
SGT/Tail Gunner - Miss Ponca City B17G-45-BO 42-97180
Mission #1: Sept 1, 1944 - Sub Pens, Kiel, Germany
Mission #2: Sept 3, 1944 - Oil Refinery, Ludwickshaven, Germany
Mission #3: Sept 5, 1944 - Oil Refinery, Ludwickshaven, Germany
Mission #4: Sept 8, 1944 - Mission Aborted
Mission #5: Sept 10, 1944 - Oil Refinery and Military Base, Magdeburg, Germany
Mission #6: Sept 12, 1944 - Oil Refinery, Ruhland, Germany
Shot down over Staaken, Germany Sept 12, 1944 at 11:39AM by FW-190's enroute to Oil Refinery, Ruhland, Germany.
Severely wounded - Shot left foot and shoulder
POW - Stalag I. One of three crew members to survive (FO - Curtis M Barber,
Stalag I , and WG - James E Hughes, Stalag IV)
Liberated - 1 May 1945
MACR 8832
Awards: AM, PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-818138
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born Gratiot, Wisconsin |
8 October 1923 | Son of Leo John and Clara Agnes [Egan] Appell. | |
|
Enlisted Milwauke, Wisconsin |
7 January 1943 | Two brothers also served and survived.- George Edward Appell: US Army - Burma 1942-1945- John Egan Appell: US Navy - Pacific Theater 1944-1947 | |
|
Based RAF Thurleigh / USAAF Station 111 - Thurleigh, England |
2 April 1944 - 12 September 1944 | Assigned - 8th AF USAAF / 306th BG / 423rd BS. B17G-45-BO 42-97180: Miss Ponca City | |
|
Prisoner of war Stalag 1 - Barth, Germany |
12 September 1944 - 1 May 1945 | Stalag 1 - Barth, Germany (North 2 - Barracks 5 - Room 4) Roomed with fellow crew member FO Curtis "Cotton" Barber. Liberated 01May 1945. | |
|
Died Rockford, Illinois |
27 October 1984 | ||
|
Buried St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery, Gratiot, Wisconsin |
1 November 1984 |
Revisions
GENERAL ORDER # 483, 1 November 1944, from Headquarters 1 Bomb Division by Brigadier General Turner.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8832 / MACR 8832, First Over Germany pg. 277, Combat Crews pg. 40, NARA / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…
