Robert M Simons

Military
media-53672.jpeg UPL 53672 First Lieutenant Robert M Simons of the 388th Bomb Group climbing into a B-17 Flying Fortress

Object Number - UPL 53672 - First Lieutenant Robert M Simons of the 388th Bomb Group climbing into a B-17 Flying Fortress

Assigned to 562BS, 388BG, 8AF USAAF. Crashed in B-17 42-39217 nicknamed 'Impatient Virgin / Iza Blue' on 14-Oct-43 near RAF Lichfield after a mission over Schweinfurt. All crew returned to duty (RTD).



Crashed again on 13-Nov-43 during take off for a mission over Bremen near East Wreatham in B-17 42-30213 nicknamed 'L'il One'. After take off, the aircraft developed severe vibrations from a runaway prop that would not feather, the crew was ordered to bail out.



Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Pistol Packin Mama
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed ""Li'l" One" of the 562nd Bomb Squadron, 388th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '388.' Printed caption on reverse: 'B-61555 AC - The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Li'L One" at an airbase in England, 19 September 1943. 562nd Bomb Sqdn., 388th Bomb Gp. U.S. Air Force Photo.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lil One
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
42-30215 "Slightly Dangerous II" over the Estuary of the River Blackwater in Essex
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Slightly Dangerous II
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 560th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Iza Blue / Impatient Virgin
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Dry Run, Screamin Red Ass
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 563rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Returned to Duty (RTD)

14 October 1943

Other

Returned to Duty (RTD)

13 November 1943

Based

Knettishall Assigned to 562BS, 388BG, 8AF USAAF.
Los Angeles, CA

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added some punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.
Updated the description for the RTD events.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Brought together information from duplicate record, to include information from AccidentReports.com, Losses of Eighth and Ninth Air Forces Vol I by Bishop & Hey p. 371-2 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Further information from 388bg.com

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Combat Chronology, Unit History, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFS Vol. I p. 343 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Robert M Simons: Gallery (1 items)