Robert Whitney Cogswell

Military
media-31588.jpeg UPL 31588 Lt Cogwell and crew of the 360th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group based in England, pose in front Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Shangrila Lil'. 16 July 1943.

Rear L-R: S/Sgt Augustus V Brundage, 1Lt John D Kennedy, Capt Robert W Cogswell, 1Lt Hershel R DeWall, 1Lt Edward L Cobb.
Front L-R: S/Sgt Paul Kistulentz, S/Sgt Harold R Timm, S/Sgt Paul J Davis, T/Sgt Gilbert E Bengston, S/Sgt Alvin Etheredge.

https://www.fold3.com/image/161274374

Object Number - UPL 31588 - Lt Cogwell and crew of the 360th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group based in England, pose in front Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Shangrila Lil'. 16...

Assigned to 360BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Survived a ditching, emergency landing and finally a bale out. Medically grounded after aborting a mission on 26-Sep-43 due to back injuries during the bail-out. Transferred to Squadron/Group Operations.

Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (4OLC), PH, WWII Victory, EAME, Korean and UN Service Medal, National Defense and Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

Post war: Remained in USAF seving in Korean War, rising to Major, was lost in B-29A 44-61940, set upon by Migs and with a damaged engine headed out into and crashed in the Yellow Sea posted MIA 23-Oct-51, presumed dead on 28-Feb-54 Killed in Action (KIA).

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

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

People

Gilbert Eddie Bengtson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37203875
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Edward Louis Cobb

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15066640 / O-673478
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Paul J Davis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14063077
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking Horse' of 303BG. Received 7/7/1944.' On reverse: Daily Graphic [Stamp, ref. no. M4226L].

Eddie Deerfield

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16080041
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Alvin Etheredge

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34124134
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

Two airmen of the 303rd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Iza Vailable". Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Keystone Press Agency, 'Sacred' and U.S. Official Photograph O.W.I. [Stamps].

42-2973

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Iza vailable
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

42-29738

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Upstairs Maid
  • Unit: 100th Bomb Group 303rd Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron

42-29754

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mason's Morons, Shangri-La Lil
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 360th Bomb Squadron

42-5434

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: BOB’S BOUDOIR, Lady Luck
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Kicking Horse" of the 303rd Bomb Group takes off with a feathered engine. Handwritten caption on reverse: ''Kicking Horse' of 303BG. Received 7/7/1944.' On reverse: Daily Graphic [Stamp, ref. no. M4226L].

42-5483

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The devil himself, red ass
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Pittsburgh, PA, USA 17 August 1918

Enlisted

Pittsburgh, PA, USA 3 February 1941

Other

Ditched

22 miles off Felixstowe, UK 30 July 1943 Ditched into North Sea 22 miles off Felixstowe 30-Jul-43 rescued ASR 10 x RTD. B-17 42-29738 'Upstairs Maid'

Other

Emergency landing

RAF Manston, Ramsgate CT12 5BB, UK 27 August 1943 Battle damaged - emergency belly landing at Manston, Kent 27-Aug-43 10 RTD. B-17F 42-2973 'Iza Vailable'

Other

Baled out WIA

New Alresford, Alresford SO24, UK 26 September 1943 Mission abort, full bomb load propellor run away on #4, engine afire, ordered crew bale out, stayed with A/C to ensure it missed Alresford. Late Bale out caused torn back ligaments. WIA 26-Sep-43 B-17 42-5434 'Lady Luck'

Other

Hospitalised

Winchester, UK 26 September 1943 Hospitalised in body cast, back ligament damage.

Died

Yellow Sea 23 October 1951 KIA in a B-29 crash in the Yellow Sea.

Buried

Korean War Veterans Memorial, 130 Riverside Dr, Dayton, OH 45405, USA Body never recovered Listed on Korean War Memorial Dayton, OH

Based

Molesworth 26 September 1943 Assigned to 360BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Flying duties.

Based

Molesworth Transferred to Squadron/Group Operations.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to biography, events and aircraft associations. Changes to Role of Honour Picture. Changes to Role of Honour Picture
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/page/85205605-robert-w-cogswell/facts
https://www.fold3.com/image/312802076?terms=Robert%20W%20Cogswell
http://www.303rdbg.com/360cogswell.html
https://alresfordmemories.wordpress.com/2015/11/15/the-crash-of-lady-lu…
https://www.stripes.com/news/town-honors-wwii-pilot-who-averted-deadly-…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13593519/robert-whitney-cogswell
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118084786/robert-whitney-cogswell

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to middlename, service number, highest rank, biography, awards, events, person associations, unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/page/85205605-robert-w-cogswell/facts
https://www.fold3.com/image/312802076?terms=Robert%20W%20Cogswell
http://www.303rdbg.com/360cogswell.html
https://alresfordmemories.wordpress.com/2015/11/15/the-crash-of-lady-lu…
https://www.stripes.com/news/town-honors-wwii-pilot-who-averted-deadly-…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13593519/robert-whitney-cogswell
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118084786/robert-whitney-cogswell

Date
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop & Hey p. 208, 291 / http://www.303rdbg.com/360cogswell.html#

Robert Whitney Cogswell: Gallery (2 items)