World War II Honoree

Robert C. Dwelly, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oakham, Massachusetts

Honored By

Wesley Dwelly

Relationship

Brother

1ST LIEUTENANT. SERVED FROM 1942 TO 1945 WITH THE 104TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 385TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION AS ARTILLERY SPOTTER. FLEW ON AN UNARMED PIPER CUB CARRYING OUT AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS. BROUGHT DOWN A MESSERSCHMITT 109 ON APRIL 4, 1945. ISSUED A CERTIFICATE CREDITING HIM WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF AN ENEMY PURSUIT PLANE, THE FIRST IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER BY AN ARTILLERY CUB. ON MAY 10, 1945, 3 DAYS AFTER THE GERMAN SURRENDER, HE MET A TRAGIC AND UNTIMELY DEATH. ON A RETURN TRIP FROM TAKING A SUPERIOR OFFICER TO A MEETING DURING POST SURRENDER NEGOTIATIONS, HE WAS BLINDED BY THE SETTING SUN, FLEW INTO HIGH TENSION WIRES NEAR LEIPSIG, GERMANY AND WAS KILLED.