Robert Anthony Siavage
Military![A radio operator of the 306th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Not to be published.' [stamp], '246555.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was attached to the reverse of the image, however this has been removed.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/freeman/media-379018.jpg.webp?itok=t0lJcew6)
Addition of caption from reverse of photograph.
Object Number - FRE 1152 - A radio operator of the 306th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Not to be...
He was assigned to the Earl C. Tunnell crew. He flew the first raid to Germany (Wilhelmshaven) on 27 January 1943 with Col. Frank A. Armstrong.
Shot down on the 6 March 1943 mission to the Lorient submarine pens, France, in B-17F #42-5378, 306BG/367BS while serving as Radio Operator. The aircraft had developed an oil leak in no. 3 engine over the Channel, but oil pressure stayed steady so the pilots continued the mission toward the objective. According to Strong, fighters attacked as this plane was dropping back due to the earlier oil leak and the fact this Group was in the low Squadron. When engine 4 quit, bailout was ordered.
Prisoner of War (POW) in Stalag 17B, located near Krems, Austria, in barrack block 37A.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-726184
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19075295 at enlistment, then O-664296
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36219920 at enlistment, then O-726143
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Bombardier
![Staff Sergeant Charles D. Hill, a waist gunner of the 306th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image via BL Davies. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 2 Feb 1943.' [stamp] and '246557.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN AIRMEN WHO MADE FIRST DAYLIGHT RAID ON GERMANY. Associated Press Photos shows: Staff Sgt. Charles D. Hill of Baltimore, Maryland, The waist Gunner of the First Fortress to bomb Wilhelmshaven. TET 254771/2. 1243](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379012.jpg.webp?itok=jN7Gu7M2)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13050532
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13025901
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
![Bomber crew and Ground crew of the 306th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Passed for publication 2 Feb 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Airmen Who Made First Daylight Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows: The crew and ground crew of the Fortress which made first raid on Germany in daylight. $Censor: We have names and hometowns of all.$ TET 254778. I 243.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407822.jpg.webp?itok=lqqI_MHP)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 6 March 1943
Places
![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 |
27 April 1920 | ||
|
Enlisted |
8 September 1941 | Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
6 March 1943 | Held at Stalag 17B, Braunau-Gneikendorf (near Krems), Austria. Officially Returned to Military Control (RMC) 8 June 1945 | |
|
Died |
31 March 1988 | ||
|
Born |
Eynon, Pennsylvania |
Revisions
Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft card
NARA WWII POW records
Pages 40 and 41 at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/142694377 (NARA)
Page 31 of AV 51/43 at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/18238537 (NARA)
Veterans Affairs BIRLS death File
Barracks information: http://www.stalag17b.com/Docs/Stalag17bcom_US_POW_list_2015_02_21.htm
Lee Cunningham 30-Jul-2015. Made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data; Added POW Decoration and POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; Added AM & DFC within existing website data; Edited Summary Biography with A/C model letter and Unit association and crew position per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
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. 89, First Over Germany by Russell Strong pp. 65 & 73-4, NARA, / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…
![A radio operator of the 306th Bomb Group in position inside a B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Not to be published.' [stamp], '246555.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was attached to the reverse of the image, however this has been removed.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379018.jpg.webp?itok=uuLOTe-b)
