Robert A Harken

Military
media-31440.jpeg UPL 31440 Captain Robert A. Harken, 466th Bomb Group Charles D Taylor collection

"Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 22 "Biographies", by Charles D Taylor.

Object Number - UPL 31440 - Captain Robert A. Harken, 466th Bomb Group

His later missions included hauling gasoline in support of Patton's 3rd Army and food drops over Holland. On one mission his tail gunner's oxygen system failed and the plane was shot at by both Germans and Americans before he managed to land at a base in Belgium; unfortunately too late for the gunner.

He afterwards returned to college and taught school for twenty two years.



Air Medal 5 clusters

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35798069
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17096876
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11099901
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner, Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38563944
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

The nose art of a 466th Bomb Group B-24 Liberator nicknamed "Times A' Wastin'". Handwritten caption on reverse: '466th B.G., 8th Air Force.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Times A Wastin
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Duffy's Tavern
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Same Ole Crap
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95248) nicknamed "The Falcon" of the 466th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24H-25-10. The Falcon, 42-95248 466 BG 2U-U.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: The Falcon
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Jennie
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 30 November 1944
  • Date: 14 October 1944
  • Date: 30 August 1944
  • Date: 14 August 1944

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Austinville, IA 50604, USA 26 April 1921

Enlisted

Des Moines, IA, USA 10 July 1942

Other

466th BG Combat Tour

Attlebridge, Norwich, Norfolk NR9, UK 7 August 1944 - 28 January 1945 20 missions with the 785th BS 10 missions as a lead crew with the 784th BS

Died

Waterloo, IA, USA 14 March 2006

Enlisted

Ackley, IA 50601, USA 17 March 2006 West Friesland Presbyterian Church Cemetery Grundy County Iowa, USA
Austinville, IA 50604, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorHelen
Changes
Sources

Iowans of the Mighty 8th

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - Report on Mission No. 146, Neunkirchen, Germany - 30 Nov 1944
NARA Research provided by Brad Sullivan

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit roster in the book ATTLEBRIDGE ARSENAL by Wassom & Brassfield, page 346

Robert A Harken: Gallery (3 items)