World War II Honoree

Robert L. Drake

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Redding, California

Honored By

Velma M. Drake

Relationship

Wife

ASSIGNED TO THE 15TH AIR FORCE, 2ND BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 49TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON AS A B-17 ‘FLYING FORTRESS’ BOMBER, FLIGHT ENGINEER AND TOP TURRET GUNNER, FLYING MISSIONS OUT OF TUNISIA, NORTH AFRICA AND FOGGIA, ITALY. DURING HIS 15TH COMBAT MISSION, JANUARY 24, 1944, ENEMY FIGHTERS SHOT DOWN HIS AIRCRAFT OVER MACEDONIA. AFTER BAILING OUT OF HIS CRIPPLED BOMBER, HE WAS CAPTURED BY THE GERMANS AND INTERNED AT CAMP SCHAMAS, SOFIA, BULGARIA AS A PRISONER OF WAR FOR 8 MONTHS. CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES: AIR COMBAT, EUROPEAN THEATER AND AIR OFFENSIVE EUROPE BOMBING TARGETS IN AUSTRIA, GREECE, GERMANY, NORTH ITALY, ROMANIA AND BULGARIA. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, PURPLE HEART MEDAL, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, A SHARP SHOOTER BADGE, FLIGHT ENGINEER AND GUNNERY WINGS.