World War II Honoree

Robert N. Gill

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ashtabula County, Ohio

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: STAFF SERGEANT. HE WAS A PASSENGER IN A RB-34A ‘VENTURA’ TWIN-ENGINE PATROL BOMBER, WHO WAS KILLED SEPTEMBER 24, 1943 ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER CREW MEMBERS DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKE-OFF. THE PILOT HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE BOMBER WHEN THE STARBOARD ENGINE FAILED DURING THE TAKE-OFF ROLL AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE STRUCTURE, BURSTING INTO FLAMES IMMEDIATELY ON IMPACT. THE FLIGHT, AN AUTHORIZED ADMINISTRATIVE MISSION HAD ORIGINATED AT THE U.S. COAST GUARD AIR STATION, PORT ANGELES, WASHINGTON AND WAS DESTINED FOR PAINE FIELD, WASHINGTON.