World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Robert E. Willson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Magnolia, Mississippi
Honored By
John Meurs
SERVICE NUMBER: 34612804. RADIO OPERATOR WITH THE 305TH BOMB GROUP, 365TH BOMB SQUADRON OF THE 8TH ARMY AIR FORCES, BASED IN ENGLAND. ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1944, HIS AIRCRAFT, THE B-17G (SERIAL NUMBER 43-37955), EXPLODED OVER DIEPENVEEN, NETHERLANDS, AFTER A MISSION TO THE SYNTHETIC FUEL PLANT IN MISBURG, GERMANY. 2 CREW MEMBERS WERE PICKED UP AND HIDDEN BY THE DUTCH UNDERGROUND UNTIL THEIR LIBERATION BY CANADIAN TROOPS IN SPRING 1945. THE 7 OTHERS, INCLUDING THE HONOREE, WERE TAKEN PRISONER.