Robert Henry Preller

Military

Flak shell exploded close below aircraft - one fragment penetrated 'all but one' layer of the two flak vests Dad was sitting on. Heading for home from attacking Hamburg (probably 20 June 1944) he was awed by 'smoke AND FLAMES rising higher than bombing altitude and went out of sight above us'.

Robert Preller was credited with 33 combat missions from May to September 1944.



DFC; Air Medal w 3/Oak Leaf Cluster

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.

384th Bomb Group

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

People

Nine men in Air Force uniform posed in front of a military airplane. Five men standing to the rear, four men kneeling in front. Large canvas bags are laying in front of kneeling men

Max L Algase

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant

Henry M Bowers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant

Kenneth Harold Costello

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17165079
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

James R Flowers

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant

James K Gilmore

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New Haven, Connecticut 4 February 1918

Died

19 October 1993

Buried

Meriden, Connecticut Walnut Groce Cemetery, Meriden, New Haven County, Connecticut

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment Records
Data from son Fred ( https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=1 )

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Sources

384thbombgroup.com

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / son