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FO Robert L. Phillips

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FO Robert L. Phillips Veteran

Birth
Death
18 Oct 1944
Belgium
Burial
Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium Add to Map
Plot
Plot E Row 12 Grave 22
Memorial ID
View Source
US Army Air Corps WORLD WAR II
Co Pilot Flt/Of. Robert L. Phillips KIA
Hometown: Enumclaw. Washington
Squadron: 68th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service # T-125025
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Julian H. Dayball KIA

MACR #10140
Target: Leverkusen, Germany
Mission Date: 18-Oct-44
Serial Number: #42-50381
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: K
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Crew of 10 KIA
Cause: mid-air collision wFLAK MAGNET #42-50596 caused by weather
Note: pilot of FLAK MAGNET 1st/Lt.Edward C. Lehnhausen

This Group sent 31 aircraft to attack the Chemical Works located at Leverkusen. Bombing was accomplished with G-H equipment; results unobserved due to clouds. Three aircraft did not return, due primarily to the severe weather conditions that existed over the continent. Squadrons incurring losses were the 67th and 68th.

On the route out of the continent near the coast, a cloud layer building up to 28,000 feet caused the group to break the integrity of the formation. As described previously, the two aircraft collided. On 24 October, 1944, six days after the above two losses, official word was received as to the cause for the loss of two of the three aircraft MIA on the 18th.
“The flight surgeon’s report stated that the aircraft piloted by Lts. Bakalo and Dayball, collided in mid-air during an electrical storm over Belgium. Both aircraft crashed, with one exploding; all crew members were killed in action except Lt. Bakalo’s two waist gunners, who bailed out safely. Twelve bodies were found in the two crashed Liberators.

Dayball Crew
1st/Lt. Julian H. Dayball Pilot KIA
Flt/Of. Robert L. Phillips Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Davis Navigator KIA
Sgt.Edward P. Sicard Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Ivan W. Fink Engineer KIA
S/Sgt. Arthur A. Steinke Gunner KIA
Sgt. Wilbert L. Couvillion Gunner KIA
Sgt.Malcolm R. Smith Gunner KIA
Sgt. John J. Shea Gunner KIA
Sgt. Conrad R. Bettley Jr. Radar Obs. KIA
US Army Air Corps WORLD WAR II
Co Pilot Flt/Of. Robert L. Phillips KIA
Hometown: Enumclaw. Washington
Squadron: 68th Sq. 44th Bomb Group
Service # T-125025
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Julian H. Dayball KIA

MACR #10140
Target: Leverkusen, Germany
Mission Date: 18-Oct-44
Serial Number: #42-50381
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: K
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Crew of 10 KIA
Cause: mid-air collision wFLAK MAGNET #42-50596 caused by weather
Note: pilot of FLAK MAGNET 1st/Lt.Edward C. Lehnhausen

This Group sent 31 aircraft to attack the Chemical Works located at Leverkusen. Bombing was accomplished with G-H equipment; results unobserved due to clouds. Three aircraft did not return, due primarily to the severe weather conditions that existed over the continent. Squadrons incurring losses were the 67th and 68th.

On the route out of the continent near the coast, a cloud layer building up to 28,000 feet caused the group to break the integrity of the formation. As described previously, the two aircraft collided. On 24 October, 1944, six days after the above two losses, official word was received as to the cause for the loss of two of the three aircraft MIA on the 18th.
“The flight surgeon’s report stated that the aircraft piloted by Lts. Bakalo and Dayball, collided in mid-air during an electrical storm over Belgium. Both aircraft crashed, with one exploding; all crew members were killed in action except Lt. Bakalo’s two waist gunners, who bailed out safely. Twelve bodies were found in the two crashed Liberators.

Dayball Crew
1st/Lt. Julian H. Dayball Pilot KIA
Flt/Of. Robert L. Phillips Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Richard H. Davis Navigator KIA
Sgt.Edward P. Sicard Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Ivan W. Fink Engineer KIA
S/Sgt. Arthur A. Steinke Gunner KIA
Sgt. Wilbert L. Couvillion Gunner KIA
Sgt.Malcolm R. Smith Gunner KIA
Sgt. John J. Shea Gunner KIA
Sgt. Conrad R. Bettley Jr. Radar Obs. KIA

Inscription

FLT O, 68 BOMB SQ
44 BOMB GP (HEAVY) WASHINGTON

Gravesite Details

Entered the service from Washington.



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  • Maintained by: John Dowdy
  • Originally Created by: War Graves
  • Added: Aug 6, 2010
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56284570/robert_l-phillips: accessed ), memorial page for FO Robert L. Phillips (unknown–18 Oct 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56284570, citing Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial, Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège, Belgium; Maintained by John Dowdy (contributor 47791572).