Robert Drury Bateson

Military
media-30164.jpeg UPL 30164 2nd Lieutenant Robert Drury Bateson - B-17 pilot - December 1943 prior to deployment overseas to England. Robert Drury Bateson

From the personal estate collection of Robert Bateson.

Object Number - UPL 30164 - 2nd Lieutenant Robert Drury Bateson - B-17 pilot - December 1943 prior to deployment overseas to England.

MACR Number: 2862 Date: 440225 Aircraft Type: B-17

AAF S/N: 42-39841: Group Squadron: 96/339 Pilot: Lupole



Lt. Bateson was the copilot flying a 96th Bomb Group, 339th Bomb Squadron, aircraft on February 25, 1944 when he was shot down. The aircraft tail number was 42-39841 and was named "Wacky Woody". This aircraft was assigned to the commander of the 96th Bomb Group and this was its last flight before it was scheduled to return to the United States. Since the aircraft was the group commander's aircraft, it was equipped with bulletproof glass in the cockpit and would play as a factor in saving Lt. Bateson and his crew. The group was scheduled to fly a bombing run on a Messerschmidt plant in Regensburg, Germany. Lt. Bateson and his crew were shot down in the area of Saarbrücken, Germany by a flight of three (3) Focke-Wolf 190s after suffering flak damage en route to Regensburg.



Lt. Bateson attempted to bailout through the bomb bay doors but there were 500-pound bombs in the way so he was forced to exit the aircraft by way of the navigator's door.



After landing inside the city of Saarbrücken, Lt. Bateson was captured by German civilians and military forces. Lt. Bateson was the only member of the crew to land inside the city. He was sent to Durchgangslager der Luftwaffe (Dulag Luft) for interrogation before being transferred to Stalag Luft 1, Barth Vogelsang Prussia 54-12.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15334414
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-809523
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-749669
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36417395
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 728th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32574992
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Wacky Woody
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Hopedale, MA, USA 1 November 1917 Town of Hopedale Worcester County Massachusetts, USA

Died

Springfield Hospital, 271 Carew St, Springfield, MA 01104, USA 25 September 2015 Springfield Hospital Springfield Hampden County Massachusetts, USA

Buried

Gate of Heaven 421 Tinkham Rd, Springfield, MA 01129, USA 22 October 2015 Burial: Gate of Heaven Cemetery Springfield Hampden County Massachusetts, USA

Revisions

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ContributorUSAFPJ
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Extracted from the birth and death certificates of Robert Drury Bateson.

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Wilbraham Funeral Home - Obituary dated September 25, 2015.

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MACR Number: 2862 and personal interview with Robert Bateson.

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ContributorUSAFPJ
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My father only flew seven combat missions before being shot down on February 25, 1944, Day 6th of BIG WEEK or Operation Argument.

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personal photo collection

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personal photo collection

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ContributorLucy May
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WW crew

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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2862, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces

Robert Drury Bateson: Gallery (7 items)