Steele M Roberts
Military
The photograph survived in my Great Uncle's Footlocker, Lt. David L. Thomas
Object Number - UPL 32744 - 96th Bomb Group, 339th Bomb Squadron, crew members identified as "Marty" Zajicek and Steele M. Roberts.
POW crashed near Schieben on 19 Mar 45 in B-17 #44-8704. Came down SW of Calau. On the following day Sgt. Roberts was escorted by Germans to the churchyard of a small town where his comrades were lain out in a wagon prior to burial.
"T-Sgt Steele F. Roberts preceeded me in jumping from forward escape hatch. Sgt. Roberts flying as top gunner was first one aware of our peril and after being certain he could no longer assist pilot, dove to catwalk under pilot compartment, released door and jumped."
"Sgt Roberts after capture, was taken to a small Church yard outside of a small unknown town, and was asked by his captors to identify the bodies of eight men. He did not tell his captors that they were members of his aircrew but satisfied himself beyond a doubt that these men were members of his crew. The above mentioned officer was positively identified as one."
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2062638
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-713570
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36 698 781
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Military site
- Site type: Military site
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Enlisted |
Pittsburgh, PA, USA | 15 August 1942 | Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law |
|
Died |
Sewickley, PA 15143, USA | 11 February 2000 | Steele M. Roberts, 78, of Sewickley, on Friday, Feb. 11, 2000. Beloved husband of Mary Speidel Roberts; father of Steele M. Jr. and E. Dexter Roberts; brother of Olive Roberts Kuhn and Joseph L. Roberts; and four grandchildren. Funeral services will be held in Christ Church at Grove Farm, 243 Duff Road, Ohio Township, Sewickley, Monday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. John Guest officiating. Arrangements by R.D. COPELAND'S IRVINE CHAPEL, 702 Beaver St., Sewickley. |
|
Born |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA | ||
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Germany | 19 March 1945 |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Added information from MACR report
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 13571 / MACR 13571; Snetterton Falcons, pg 187, 239 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
