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Capt Robert E Adamina [Oakland, CA]. 82nd Fighter Squadron. P-47C 41-6219 "Rocket Jo". Capt Adamina was the Group's first loss when he became a POW on 14 May 1943 in 41-6198 MX-D. The a/c is seen here just prior to having the MX-D code applied instead of the American style unit markings.
Robert Adamina served as a pilot with the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group. He was shot down on 14 May 1943 in P-47 41-6198. He became involved in a dogfight with FW190's in support of B-17s. He came down in North Sea near Belgian coast and was rescued by a German boat. Prisoner of War (POW).
Capt Adamina was the 78th Fighter Group's first loss.
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Service
Units served with
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Group
The 78th Fighter Group was initially based at Goxhill but moved to Duxford in April 1943 and stayed there until October 1945. The 78th FG flew each of the three US built principal fighters of the AAF in the ETO. In their Thundetbolts, the 78th FG ...
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Aircraft
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P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 82FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Ditched in the sea off Belgium, following a dog fight near Antwerp. Capt Robert E Adamina POW. 14-May-43.
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P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 82FS, 78FG 8AF USAAF. Personal aircraft of Capt Robert E Adamina, re-assigned to Capt William E May. Transferred war weary to 552FTS, 495FTG, 8AF USAAF. Crash Landing Structural Failure Atcham, written off 8-Sep-44.
Associated Place
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Military site : airfield
RAF Duxford, now a museum and still a working airfield, was operated by the USAAF from 1943 to 1945. The base was briefly the home of the 350th Fighter Group in late 1942, but it was not until April 1943 that it became a fully American station when the...
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Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Born |
California |
5 August 1917 |
Lived in |
Alameda, CA, USA |
1940 |
Enlisted |
Presidio, San Francisco, CA, USA |
26 November 1940 |
Presidio, San Francisco, California
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Based |
Duxford |
11 May 1942 – 14 May 1943 |
Assigned to 82FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF.
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Promotion |
Duxford, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB22, UK |
4 October 1942 |
Promoted to Captain.
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Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland |
14 May 1943 – 1945 |
Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III.
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Shot down |
North Sea off Belgium |
14 May 1943 |
Shot down in dogfight with Fw190's on support mission for bombing mission. Baled into North Sea, rescued/captured.
14-May-43. POW.
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Died |
Palm Desert, CA, USA |
30 October 1996 |