Robert Ferris Kirkelie

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-37199.jpeg UPL 37199 SGT Robert Ferris Kirkelie
Tail Gunner
Crew #550 - Joseph F.E. Damiani Crew
466th BG - 785th BS
KIA - 25 March 1944 on a gas haul mission

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1265/43134_b182918-00129?pid=31116…

Object Number - UPL 37199 - SGT Robert Ferris Kirkelie Tail Gunner Crew #550 - Joseph F.E. Damiani Crew 466th BG - 785th BS KIA - 25 March 1944 on a gas haul mission

Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed in B-24 'Jamaica' #4128746

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

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?'

466th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Joseph Ferdinand Edward Damiani

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-817635
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-28746) nicknamed "Jamaica?" of the 466th Bomb Group.

41-28746

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Jamaica?
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Fillmore County, MN, USA 10 September 1924

Enlisted

Los Angeles, CA, USA 5 April 1943

Buried

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, Missouri 19 April 1951 Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Lemay St. Louis County Missouri, USA Plot: SECTION 84 SITE 33-35

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

France 25 September 1944 "I remember that morning so very well. The rap on the barracks door, and the request for the tail gunner to fly on the gas haul mission. Our regular tail gunner was a very likeable 19 year old from California. He wanted to sleep in, so I volunteered to fly in the tail gun turret in his place and started to get dressed. Wel that's when he (Kirkelie) decided that he better go, and he did. The rest of the story in still unknown history." - Jesse Sampson, Waist Gunner on the Damiani Crew.
Venice, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1265/43134_b182918-00129?pid=31116…

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

https://www.ancestry.com/search/?name=Robert_Kirkelie&event=_Minnesota&…

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - Letter from Jesse C. Sampson to Barkev Hovsepian dated 8 February 1989

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 / MACR 9575 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Robert Ferris Kirkelie: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 13414 - Page 3 of 466th Bomb Group 'Roll of Honor' at All...

Object number: UPL 37199 - SGT Robert Ferris Kirkelie Tail Gunner Crew #550 -...