From the Belleville News-Democrat, 12 Aug 1944:
Missing ....... Technical Sgt Robert O. Finley, 27, over Czechoslovakia since July 21; son of Mrs Rosalie Finley, Chester
From the Belleville Daily Advocate, 12 Aug 1944:
Sgt Robert Finley, 27, former teacher in the Baldwin High school, and a son of the late R. O. Finley, superintendent of schools in Randolph County for a number of years, is reported as missing in action over Czechoslovakia. A message to that effect was received by his mother at Chester.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Radio Operator on the Leon Polinsky Crew flying in a B-24G (#42-78432) on a mission to Brux. After leaving the target the aircraft took multiple flax hits including one in the bomb bay. Finley assisted the flight engineer, Tunis Gaalswyk, in attempting to put out the fire and open the bomb bay so they could bail out. They were unable to do so and perished when the aircraft crashed along with the pilot who had remained at the controls. The other 7 men in the aircraft successfully bailed out.
Contributor: Joel S. Russell (46506507)
Missing ....... Technical Sgt Robert O. Finley, 27, over Czechoslovakia since July 21; son of Mrs Rosalie Finley, Chester
From the Belleville Daily Advocate, 12 Aug 1944:
Sgt Robert Finley, 27, former teacher in the Baldwin High school, and a son of the late R. O. Finley, superintendent of schools in Randolph County for a number of years, is reported as missing in action over Czechoslovakia. A message to that effect was received by his mother at Chester.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Radio Operator on the Leon Polinsky Crew flying in a B-24G (#42-78432) on a mission to Brux. After leaving the target the aircraft took multiple flax hits including one in the bomb bay. Finley assisted the flight engineer, Tunis Gaalswyk, in attempting to put out the fire and open the bomb bay so they could bail out. They were unable to do so and perished when the aircraft crashed along with the pilot who had remained at the controls. The other 7 men in the aircraft successfully bailed out.
Contributor: Joel S. Russell (46506507)
From the Belleville News-Democrat, 12 Aug 1944:
Missing ....... Technical Sgt Robert O. Finley, 27, over Czechoslovakia since July 21; son of Mrs Rosalie Finley, Chester
From the Belleville Daily Advocate, 12 Aug 1944:
Sgt Robert Finley, 27, former teacher in the Baldwin High school, and a son of the late R. O. Finley, superintendent of schools in Randolph County for a number of years, is reported as missing in action over Czechoslovakia. A message to that effect was received by his mother at Chester.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Radio Operator on the Leon Polinsky Crew flying in a B-24G (#42-78432) on a mission to Brux. After leaving the target the aircraft took multiple flax hits including one in the bomb bay. Finley assisted the flight engineer, Tunis Gaalswyk, in attempting to put out the fire and open the bomb bay so they could bail out. They were unable to do so and perished when the aircraft crashed along with the pilot who had remained at the controls. The other 7 men in the aircraft successfully bailed out.
Contributor: Joel S. Russell (46506507)
Missing ....... Technical Sgt Robert O. Finley, 27, over Czechoslovakia since July 21; son of Mrs Rosalie Finley, Chester
From the Belleville Daily Advocate, 12 Aug 1944:
Sgt Robert Finley, 27, former teacher in the Baldwin High school, and a son of the late R. O. Finley, superintendent of schools in Randolph County for a number of years, is reported as missing in action over Czechoslovakia. A message to that effect was received by his mother at Chester.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Radio Operator on the Leon Polinsky Crew flying in a B-24G (#42-78432) on a mission to Brux. After leaving the target the aircraft took multiple flax hits including one in the bomb bay. Finley assisted the flight engineer, Tunis Gaalswyk, in attempting to put out the fire and open the bomb bay so they could bail out. They were unable to do so and perished when the aircraft crashed along with the pilot who had remained at the controls. The other 7 men in the aircraft successfully bailed out.
Contributor: Joel S. Russell (46506507)
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