This is the story of how Robert lost his life:

This crew took off at 1818W (Guam Standard Time) on March 24, 1945, and were last contacted at time of takeoff.

Remains believed to represent the bodies of six persons, two of whom were identified as M/Sgt. Manuel Fernandez, Jr., Pfc Lewis E. Johnson, were recovered from a communal grave at Public Cemetery #3, Nodano, Honshu, Japan. Identification of the other remains had not been established, and they were subsequently interred in USAF Cemetery Yokohama No. 1, as unknowns X-614 through X-617.

Reports "indicate their plane crashed at Nagakute-mura, Honshu, Japan, 25 March 1945, which should establish the place and date of death of the entire crew. Japanese witnesses state the plane, which caught fire in the air, exploded upon impact with the ground; that one crew member whose parachute failed to open bailed out and that his body was buried with the other crew members. Since only one unidentified member of the crew, who failed to survive, is known to have bailed out it is evident that the remaining eight crew members were in the burning aircraft when it struck the ground and exploded.

It is possible that following the explosion insufficient remains were collectible to establish the existence of nine bodies or that the remains of the crew which were interred by the Japanese were in such an incomplete state that it was not possible to establish the number of bodies upon subsequent disinterment. It, therefore, seems logical to conclude that the subject persons, the remaining crew members not accounted for, were killed in the crash and explosion of the plane." Nagakute-mura is now called Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi-Ken. Nagakute-cho is adjacent to the East side of Nagoya-city, and approximately 4 kilometers west of Nagoya Dome.

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CFC Gunner aboard B-29 Superfortress #42-63493

Aircraft B-29, serial number 42-63493, nicknamed Star Duster, departed from Saipan, Marianas Islands, on a combat mission to attack the Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant at Nagoya. Shot down March 25, 1945 over Nagakute-mura, Honshu, Japan. Missing Air Crew Report 13826.

The crewmembers Killed In Action:

2 LT Charles E Timmons, O-738293, TN, Pilot

2 LT Richard R Riggs, O-772501, WA, Co-Pilot

2 LT Vernon W Duncan, O2057783, TN, Navigator

2 LT Melvin M Personett, O-709965, OK, Bombardier

MSGT Manuel Fernandez Jr, 18056417, TX, Flight Engineer

SSGT Robert H Renollet, 15375762, OH, CFC Gunner

SGT John E Allison, 16195555, IL, Gunner

SGT Donald J Harris, 36453637, MI, Radar Operator

PFC Lewis E Johnson, 37702292, KS, Radio Operator