Robert W. Mohnacky
Robert enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a Private on 1/14/1942 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,for the duration of the war. He applied and was accepted to the Aviation Cadet program where he obtained a commission as a Second Lieutenant and earned his pilot's wings.
In November 1943, Robert was sent with this new B-17 bomber crew mates to Ridgewell, England to join the 534th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, and participate in the bombing of Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany, and other targets in Europe. They were assigned for combat duty with the Group on 12/7/1943.
On Group Mission #61, Robert and his crew mates left Ridgewell on a bombing mission over Germany on B-17 Sn# 42-38045 (no known nickname). Their bomber, as well as another bomber, were delayed in take off due to a problem on the runway and as a result, lagged behind in the Group formation, leaving them vulnerable for attack by enemy fighters.
Robert was reported as being Missing in Action (MIA) on 1/29/1944 during a bombing raid over Frankfurt. Reportedly, the plane was attacked and shot down by German fighters, possibly by night-fighters of the Nachtjagdgeschwader 6 Squadron who were in operation in that area. The plane exploded before hitting the ground. All of the officers were killed on the plane along with one crewman. The rest of the enlisted crew bailed out and survived with one being wounded by German forces while trying to escape capture.
Robert and the other KIA crew members status was changed from MIA to Killed in Action (KIA) and declared dead on 4/28/1944. The crew, commonly referred to as the Mohnacky crew, consisted of the following men and disposition:
2nd Lt. Mohnacky, Robert W. Pilot (KIA)
2nd Lt. Flood, Joe Co-Pilot (KIA)
2nd Lt. Yake, William J. Navigator (KIA)
2nd Lt. Light, James A. Bombardier (KIA)
S/Sgt. Gentsch, Dale Top Turret (KIA)
S/Sgt. Hagen, Elmer F. Radio Operator (POW)
S/Sgt. Schenck, Peter Tail Gunner (POW)
Sgt. Grugan, Joseph W. Ball Turret (POW)
Sgt. Berg, Robert J. Right Waist Gunner (POW)
Sgt. Meyer, Russell A. Left Waist Gunner (POW)
Second Lieutenant Robert W. Mohnacky, Sn ## O-803249, earned the following badges/decorations during his World War II service:
- Army Air Corps Pilot's Wings
- Purple Heart Medal
- Air Medal (not verified)
- American Campaign Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
Robert enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a Private on 1/14/1942 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,for the duration of the war. He applied and was accepted to the Aviation Cadet program where he obtained a commission as a Second Lieutenant and earned his pilot's wings.
In November 1943, Robert was sent with this new B-17 bomber crew mates to Ridgewell, England to join the 534th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, and participate in the bombing of Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany, and other targets in Europe. They were assigned for combat duty with the Group on 12/7/1943.
On Group Mission #61, Robert and his crew mates left Ridgewell on a bombing mission over Germany on B-17 Sn# 42-38045 (no known nickname). Their bomber, as well as another bomber, were delayed in take off due to a problem on the runway and as a result, lagged behind in the Group formation, leaving them vulnerable for attack by enemy fighters.
Robert was reported as being Missing in Action (MIA) on 1/29/1944 during a bombing raid over Frankfurt. Reportedly, the plane was attacked and shot down by German fighters, possibly by night-fighters of the Nachtjagdgeschwader 6 Squadron who were in operation in that area. The plane exploded before hitting the ground. All of the officers were killed on the plane along with one crewman. The rest of the enlisted crew bailed out and survived with one being wounded by German forces while trying to escape capture.
Robert and the other KIA crew members status was changed from MIA to Killed in Action (KIA) and declared dead on 4/28/1944. The crew, commonly referred to as the Mohnacky crew, consisted of the following men and disposition:
2nd Lt. Mohnacky, Robert W. Pilot (KIA)
2nd Lt. Flood, Joe Co-Pilot (KIA)
2nd Lt. Yake, William J. Navigator (KIA)
2nd Lt. Light, James A. Bombardier (KIA)
S/Sgt. Gentsch, Dale Top Turret (KIA)
S/Sgt. Hagen, Elmer F. Radio Operator (POW)
S/Sgt. Schenck, Peter Tail Gunner (POW)
Sgt. Grugan, Joseph W. Ball Turret (POW)
Sgt. Berg, Robert J. Right Waist Gunner (POW)
Sgt. Meyer, Russell A. Left Waist Gunner (POW)
Second Lieutenant Robert W. Mohnacky, Sn ## O-803249, earned the following badges/decorations during his World War II service:
- Army Air Corps Pilot's Wings
- Purple Heart Medal
- Air Medal (not verified)
- American Campaign Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
Robert W. Mohnacky
Robert enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a Private on 1/14/1942 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,for the duration of the war. He applied and was accepted to the Aviation Cadet program where he obtained a commission as a Second Lieutenant and earned his pilot's wings.
In November 1943, Robert was sent with this new B-17 bomber crew mates to Ridgewell, England to join the 534th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, and participate in the bombing of Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany, and other targets in Europe. They were assigned for combat duty with the Group on 12/7/1943.
On Group Mission #61, Robert and his crew mates left Ridgewell on a bombing mission over Germany on B-17 Sn# 42-38045 (no known nickname). Their bomber, as well as another bomber, were delayed in take off due to a problem on the runway and as a result, lagged behind in the Group formation, leaving them vulnerable for attack by enemy fighters.
Robert was reported as being Missing in Action (MIA) on 1/29/1944 during a bombing raid over Frankfurt. Reportedly, the plane was attacked and shot down by German fighters, possibly by night-fighters of the Nachtjagdgeschwader 6 Squadron who were in operation in that area. The plane exploded before hitting the ground. All of the officers were killed on the plane along with one crewman. The rest of the enlisted crew bailed out and survived with one being wounded by German forces while trying to escape capture.
Robert and the other KIA crew members status was changed from MIA to Killed in Action (KIA) and declared dead on 4/28/1944. The crew, commonly referred to as the Mohnacky crew, consisted of the following men and disposition:
2nd Lt. Mohnacky, Robert W. Pilot (KIA)
2nd Lt. Flood, Joe Co-Pilot (KIA)
2nd Lt. Yake, William J. Navigator (KIA)
2nd Lt. Light, James A. Bombardier (KIA)
S/Sgt. Gentsch, Dale Top Turret (KIA)
S/Sgt. Hagen, Elmer F. Radio Operator (POW)
S/Sgt. Schenck, Peter Tail Gunner (POW)
Sgt. Grugan, Joseph W. Ball Turret (POW)
Sgt. Berg, Robert J. Right Waist Gunner (POW)
Sgt. Meyer, Russell A. Left Waist Gunner (POW)
Second Lieutenant Robert W. Mohnacky, Sn ## O-803249, earned the following badges/decorations during his World War II service:
- Army Air Corps Pilot's Wings
- Purple Heart Medal
- Air Medal (not verified)
- American Campaign Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
Robert enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a Private on 1/14/1942 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,for the duration of the war. He applied and was accepted to the Aviation Cadet program where he obtained a commission as a Second Lieutenant and earned his pilot's wings.
In November 1943, Robert was sent with this new B-17 bomber crew mates to Ridgewell, England to join the 534th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, and participate in the bombing of Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany, and other targets in Europe. They were assigned for combat duty with the Group on 12/7/1943.
On Group Mission #61, Robert and his crew mates left Ridgewell on a bombing mission over Germany on B-17 Sn# 42-38045 (no known nickname). Their bomber, as well as another bomber, were delayed in take off due to a problem on the runway and as a result, lagged behind in the Group formation, leaving them vulnerable for attack by enemy fighters.
Robert was reported as being Missing in Action (MIA) on 1/29/1944 during a bombing raid over Frankfurt. Reportedly, the plane was attacked and shot down by German fighters, possibly by night-fighters of the Nachtjagdgeschwader 6 Squadron who were in operation in that area. The plane exploded before hitting the ground. All of the officers were killed on the plane along with one crewman. The rest of the enlisted crew bailed out and survived with one being wounded by German forces while trying to escape capture.
Robert and the other KIA crew members status was changed from MIA to Killed in Action (KIA) and declared dead on 4/28/1944. The crew, commonly referred to as the Mohnacky crew, consisted of the following men and disposition:
2nd Lt. Mohnacky, Robert W. Pilot (KIA)
2nd Lt. Flood, Joe Co-Pilot (KIA)
2nd Lt. Yake, William J. Navigator (KIA)
2nd Lt. Light, James A. Bombardier (KIA)
S/Sgt. Gentsch, Dale Top Turret (KIA)
S/Sgt. Hagen, Elmer F. Radio Operator (POW)
S/Sgt. Schenck, Peter Tail Gunner (POW)
Sgt. Grugan, Joseph W. Ball Turret (POW)
Sgt. Berg, Robert J. Right Waist Gunner (POW)
Sgt. Meyer, Russell A. Left Waist Gunner (POW)
Second Lieutenant Robert W. Mohnacky, Sn ## O-803249, earned the following badges/decorations during his World War II service:
- Army Air Corps Pilot's Wings
- Purple Heart Medal
- Air Medal (not verified)
- American Campaign Medal
- European Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation ribbon
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Pennsylvania.
Family Members
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