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name
SKAGGS, Robert Lester - Date of
birth
24 February 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri -
Hometown
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-692833 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
578th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
19 May 1944 - Place of
death
Near Gevensleben, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| N | 21 | 12 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William J. Skaggs (father)
Ruth E. Skaggs (mother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-95060 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 4925
More information
Robert Skaggs attended college and was an airplane mechanic.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Kansas City, Kansas on 27 May 1942.
A returning crew eyewitness stated that the aircraft was attacked from the tail position which forced it into a spin from which it later recovered, no parachutes were seen. German ground report stated that the bodies of seven crew members were found dead in the wreckage. Others had likely jumped. In fact all ten crew members were killed.
Lt Skaggs was initially buried at the village cemetery of Gevensleben on 20 May 1944.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.B24.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com 1930 Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Michel Beckers/392nd Bomb Group