World War II Honoree

Robert Thomas Colihan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Minersville, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Patricia C. Barney

Relationship

Daughter

BALL TURRET GUNNER IN A B-17 FLYING OUT OF NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY. FLEW MANY MISSIONS. THE PLANE RAN OUT OF GAS AND DID AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON EASTERN ADRIATIC BEACH. HE WAS JUST OUTSIDE THE ALBANIAN CITY OF SCUTARI NEAR THE YUGOSLAVIAN BORDER AND WAS CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS. HE WAS IN 3 DIFFERENT PRISON CAMPS. PARTICIPATED IN THE VERY LONG MARCH. THEY STARTED AT KIEFHEIDE. MARCHED THROUGH SWINEMUNDE, MECHLENBURG, BERLIN, DANNEBURG, UELZEN. THEN TO BOXCARS AND TAKEN TO THE EDGE OF MAGDEBURG. RESUMED THE MARCH GOING THROUGH ANNABURG, THE GERMAN LINES AND THEN HALLE. IT WAS AN 80 DAY ORDEAL. WHILE BEING HELD POW, HE WAS SHOT. LATER RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART.