ROCKFORD — A WWII soldier missing for 66 years finally made it home today.
Robert R. Bishop, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces 392nd Bombardment Group, was 24 years old when the B-24 bomber he was piloting went down April 29, 1944, near Hanover, Germany.
Family members spent years holding out hope that Bishop would eventually be returned home. That day came today when Bishop was buried next to his two brothers and two sisters at Greenwood Cemetery.
"The family is now complete," said Joyce Dawson of Rockford, Bishop's niece. "It is a joyous day. We finally have closure after 66 years."
Bishop's remains had been missing until 2003 when a group of European excavators uncovered the plane wreckage.
After years of processing and DNA testing, the family had confirmation that Bishop had been found. His remains were identified on July 29, 2009.
Family members came from all over the country to celebrate Bishop's return to Illinois.
Deborah Smith of Juneau, Alaska, had never met her uncle, who was killed before she was born.
But she learned much about him as the family would gather for a picnic and share stories about him each Memorial Day.
"I didn't know Bobby, but I will always remember him," Smith said.
"This is the true definition of closure. This is a joyful day, having that circle complete."
Bishop grew up in Joliet, but his brothers and sisters moved to the Rockford area during their adult lives. His family operated Bishop Printing Co. in Rockford for many years.
About 75 family members and military personnel attended the funeral today.
One family member was with Bishop's remains on the flight from Hawaii to Illinois.
"The Army actually gave me the orders to do all the flying and the escorting," said Navy 2nd Class Petty Officer Stephen Cole, Bishop's great-great-nephew. "There is no greater honor to be able to serve as the escort and bring him back home."
Reach staff writer Matt Williams at [email protected] or 815-987-1389.
Copyright 2010 Rockford Register Star. Some rights reserved
**********************************************************
12/27/2015 Find A Grave member ShaneO (#47009366)provided name prefix.
**********************************************************
Suggested By: Hudson Louie, 29 Apr 2020 # 49842853
Birth Date 1920 4 Apr 1920
Birth Location Joliet,Will County,Illinois,USA
Middle Name R Reginald
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Suggested By: ernie, 5 Jun 2020 # 48454782
Father William Bishop (1882-1971)
Mother Deborah Bishop (1884-1929)
Robert R. Bishop, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces 392nd Bombardment Group, was 24 years old when the B-24 bomber he was piloting went down April 29, 1944, near Hanover, Germany.
Family members spent years holding out hope that Bishop would eventually be returned home. That day came today when Bishop was buried next to his two brothers and two sisters at Greenwood Cemetery.
"The family is now complete," said Joyce Dawson of Rockford, Bishop's niece. "It is a joyous day. We finally have closure after 66 years."
Bishop's remains had been missing until 2003 when a group of European excavators uncovered the plane wreckage.
After years of processing and DNA testing, the family had confirmation that Bishop had been found. His remains were identified on July 29, 2009.
Family members came from all over the country to celebrate Bishop's return to Illinois.
Deborah Smith of Juneau, Alaska, had never met her uncle, who was killed before she was born.
But she learned much about him as the family would gather for a picnic and share stories about him each Memorial Day.
"I didn't know Bobby, but I will always remember him," Smith said.
"This is the true definition of closure. This is a joyful day, having that circle complete."
Bishop grew up in Joliet, but his brothers and sisters moved to the Rockford area during their adult lives. His family operated Bishop Printing Co. in Rockford for many years.
About 75 family members and military personnel attended the funeral today.
One family member was with Bishop's remains on the flight from Hawaii to Illinois.
"The Army actually gave me the orders to do all the flying and the escorting," said Navy 2nd Class Petty Officer Stephen Cole, Bishop's great-great-nephew. "There is no greater honor to be able to serve as the escort and bring him back home."
Reach staff writer Matt Williams at [email protected] or 815-987-1389.
Copyright 2010 Rockford Register Star. Some rights reserved
**********************************************************
12/27/2015 Find A Grave member ShaneO (#47009366)provided name prefix.
**********************************************************
Suggested By: Hudson Louie, 29 Apr 2020 # 49842853
Birth Date 1920 4 Apr 1920
Birth Location Joliet,Will County,Illinois,USA
Middle Name R Reginald
**************************************************************************
Suggested By: ernie, 5 Jun 2020 # 48454782
Father William Bishop (1882-1971)
Mother Deborah Bishop (1884-1929)
ROCKFORD — A WWII soldier missing for 66 years finally made it home today.
Robert R. Bishop, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces 392nd Bombardment Group, was 24 years old when the B-24 bomber he was piloting went down April 29, 1944, near Hanover, Germany.
Family members spent years holding out hope that Bishop would eventually be returned home. That day came today when Bishop was buried next to his two brothers and two sisters at Greenwood Cemetery.
"The family is now complete," said Joyce Dawson of Rockford, Bishop's niece. "It is a joyous day. We finally have closure after 66 years."
Bishop's remains had been missing until 2003 when a group of European excavators uncovered the plane wreckage.
After years of processing and DNA testing, the family had confirmation that Bishop had been found. His remains were identified on July 29, 2009.
Family members came from all over the country to celebrate Bishop's return to Illinois.
Deborah Smith of Juneau, Alaska, had never met her uncle, who was killed before she was born.
But she learned much about him as the family would gather for a picnic and share stories about him each Memorial Day.
"I didn't know Bobby, but I will always remember him," Smith said.
"This is the true definition of closure. This is a joyful day, having that circle complete."
Bishop grew up in Joliet, but his brothers and sisters moved to the Rockford area during their adult lives. His family operated Bishop Printing Co. in Rockford for many years.
About 75 family members and military personnel attended the funeral today.
One family member was with Bishop's remains on the flight from Hawaii to Illinois.
"The Army actually gave me the orders to do all the flying and the escorting," said Navy 2nd Class Petty Officer Stephen Cole, Bishop's great-great-nephew. "There is no greater honor to be able to serve as the escort and bring him back home."
Reach staff writer Matt Williams at [email protected] or 815-987-1389.
Copyright 2010 Rockford Register Star. Some rights reserved
**********************************************************
12/27/2015 Find A Grave member ShaneO (#47009366)provided name prefix.
**********************************************************
Suggested By: Hudson Louie, 29 Apr 2020 # 49842853
Birth Date 1920 4 Apr 1920
Birth Location Joliet,Will County,Illinois,USA
Middle Name R Reginald
**************************************************************************
Suggested By: ernie, 5 Jun 2020 # 48454782
Father William Bishop (1882-1971)
Mother Deborah Bishop (1884-1929)
Robert R. Bishop, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces 392nd Bombardment Group, was 24 years old when the B-24 bomber he was piloting went down April 29, 1944, near Hanover, Germany.
Family members spent years holding out hope that Bishop would eventually be returned home. That day came today when Bishop was buried next to his two brothers and two sisters at Greenwood Cemetery.
"The family is now complete," said Joyce Dawson of Rockford, Bishop's niece. "It is a joyous day. We finally have closure after 66 years."
Bishop's remains had been missing until 2003 when a group of European excavators uncovered the plane wreckage.
After years of processing and DNA testing, the family had confirmation that Bishop had been found. His remains were identified on July 29, 2009.
Family members came from all over the country to celebrate Bishop's return to Illinois.
Deborah Smith of Juneau, Alaska, had never met her uncle, who was killed before she was born.
But she learned much about him as the family would gather for a picnic and share stories about him each Memorial Day.
"I didn't know Bobby, but I will always remember him," Smith said.
"This is the true definition of closure. This is a joyful day, having that circle complete."
Bishop grew up in Joliet, but his brothers and sisters moved to the Rockford area during their adult lives. His family operated Bishop Printing Co. in Rockford for many years.
About 75 family members and military personnel attended the funeral today.
One family member was with Bishop's remains on the flight from Hawaii to Illinois.
"The Army actually gave me the orders to do all the flying and the escorting," said Navy 2nd Class Petty Officer Stephen Cole, Bishop's great-great-nephew. "There is no greater honor to be able to serve as the escort and bring him back home."
Reach staff writer Matt Williams at [email protected] or 815-987-1389.
Copyright 2010 Rockford Register Star. Some rights reserved
**********************************************************
12/27/2015 Find A Grave member ShaneO (#47009366)provided name prefix.
**********************************************************
Suggested By: Hudson Louie, 29 Apr 2020 # 49842853
Birth Date 1920 4 Apr 1920
Birth Location Joliet,Will County,Illinois,USA
Middle Name R Reginald
**************************************************************************
Suggested By: ernie, 5 Jun 2020 # 48454782
Father William Bishop (1882-1971)
Mother Deborah Bishop (1884-1929)
Family Members
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