Robert Nelson Austin

Military
media-46542.jpeg UPL 46542 "Lt. Robert N. Austin, Campbell, N.Y., flying for the Ninth U.S. Air Force in North Africa, illustrates a scene that takes place all over the world when taps are blown and American soldiers pull out snapshots and photos of sweethearts and wives for one last look before sliding down into the blankets."

https://www.fold3.com/image/46944262

Object Number - UPL 46542 - "Lt. Robert N. Austin, Campbell, N.Y., flying for the Ninth U.S. Air Force in North Africa, illustrates a scene that takes place all over the world...

Assigned to 344BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti in B-24 41-24198; Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 166



Awards: PH.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'

98th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

41-24198

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - The Vulgar Virgin - Hell From Heaven - Shoot Youre Faded
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Benina

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Bradford, NY 12 March 1918 Son of Floyd Lee and Ida Jane [Havens] Austin.

Enlisted

Buffalo, NY 30 April 1941 Buffalo, New York

Died

Tatarani, Romania 1 August 1943 Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti in B-24 41-24198; Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 166

Based

Benina 1 August 1943 Assigned to 344BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Buried/ Commemorated

Hope Cemetery Campbell, Steuben County, NY Memorialised Hope Cemetery Campbell, Steuben County, New York
Campbell, NY

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/29417965
https://www.fold3.com/image/310770949
https://www.fold3.com/image/672831246
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107007561/robert-n.-austin

Robert Nelson Austin: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 46542 - "Lt. Robert N. Austin, Campbell, N.Y., flying for...