World War II Honoree

Robert Grace

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cleveland, Ohio

Honored By

An Indebted American

FIGHTER PILOT WHO FLEW A P-47 THUNDERBOLT, NICKNAMED 'THE JUG' FOR ITS HEAVY SIZE AND WEIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH ROCKETS AND EIGHT .50-CALIBER MACHINE GUNS. HE FLEW WITH THE 373RD FIGHTER GROUP WHICH MOSTLY DIVE-BOMBED BRIDGES AND RAILROAD YARDS AND STRAFED GERMAN CONVOYS IN THE WEEKS BEFORE THE D-DAY INVASION OF FRANCE ON JUNE 6, 1944. ON MAY 29, 1944, HIS PLANE WAS HIT BY ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE. AFTER PARACHUTING OUT, WAS ABLE TO EVADE CAPTURE BY THE GERMANS. RESCUED BY THE BELGIAN UNDERGROUND AND HIDDEN FOR FOUR MONTHS BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO THE AMERICAN FORCES.