Lost in Action, WW II * 506th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group
~
SSgt. Maurice H. Dobbins' name is also on the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Limburg, Holland. Cenotaph here
Both memorials are cenotaphs as his body was never recovered.
~
Pekin Youth, Gunner On Bomber, Is Missing
S. Sgt. Maurice Dobbins, 25, army air corps gunner, has been reported missing in action in the European area, according to a war department telegram received last night by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Everett H. Dobbins, 1005 N Capitol street.
Younger Brother Joins Up
The wire, addressed to Sgt. Dobbins' wife, who returned to her home in Pueblo, Colo., a few weeks ago, arrived just a few hours after the soldier's younger brother, Randall, had passed his first examination to become an air cadet.
The message from the adjutant general stated that Sgt. Dobbins was "reported missing in action, in European area since Mar 22. Additional information will be sent you when received".
In "Greatest Raid"
A United Press story just a week ago today reported "an American aerial assault on Wilhelmshaven naval base and submarine building and repair center in northwest Germany, and it is believed possible that Sgt. Dobbins may have been in one of the planes. The item said that the attack was described by participating pilots as the most concentrated yet undertaken by the 8th U.S air forces and that "good results" were achieved in the raid. An air corps officer said that the American planes "plastered the devil out of the target" and reported that many fires sprang up in the wake of the bombers.
Two Crashed Into Sea
Three bombers were lost, according to the story, at least two crashing into the North Sea, but many of the interesting German fighters were destroyed.
Only Saturday Mrs. Dobbins received a V-mail letter from her son, stating that he was "someplace in England" and that tho, he would like to tell her what he was doing, he couldn't. His parents believe that he had been overseas between six and seven weeks, as he was home on furlough Jan. 9 to 12, accompanied by his young wife, Lucile, whom he married in Colorado, Dec. 12, 1942. About Feb. 7 he was sent to Florida, and tho he wrote a few letters from there, it is thought he left soon for England. The letter received Saturday was dated Mar. 12 and was the first his parents had received from overseas. It was just 10 days later that he was reported missing in action.
Worked At Quaker Oats
Tho born in Chicago, Sgt. Dobbins came to Pekin with his parents in the spring of 1915, when he was a baby, and had lived here since, attending Lincoln School, Washington Junior High and Pekin Community High school. He was employed as a machine operator at the Quaker Oats company for three and a half years prior to his enlistment in the army, Mar. 21, 1942. Just a year ago and a day before he was reported missing.
Was Skilled Bomber
After three weeks at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., he was sent to Las Vegas, Nev., where he was graduated from gunnery school and received his sergeant's rating. From there he went to Tucson, Ariz.; Boise, Idaho; Wendover, Utah; Pueblo, Colo.; and Saline, Kan.. During his training he became an assistant engineer and was promoted to staff sergeant. In the new capacity he was expected to be able to take over in any position on the ship - pilot, navigator, etc. His parents believe he was an aerial gunner on a Liberator bomber, a ship carrying a crew of nine, when he was reported missing.
Telegram Came Here
In Pueblo, he met and married Miss Lucile Frasher, who came to Pekin with him on furlough, just before he was sent across. She remained in Pekin for a visit after he returned to Kansas, then to Florida, but later she went to her home in Pueblo, and is employed there now. The Dobbins believe the war department thought young Mrs. Dobbins was still in Pekin, as the wire for her came to their residence last night and they notified her of the message.
Beside his younger brother, Randall, popular PCHS senior and talented drummer, Sgt. Dobbins has an elder sister, Mrs. Jim Champion, Pekin; a younger sister, Miss Lorena Dobbins, at home, and a grandmother, Mrs. Alma Rutledge, Elmhurst, who is visiting in Pekin. Randall, 17, has been ordered to report to Rantoul tomorrow to complete his cadet examination, but he will not be called to service before his 18th birthday in October.
Pekin Daily Times March 30, 1943
~
SSgt. Maurice H. Dobbins' name is also on the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Limburg, Holland. Cenotaph here
Both memorials are cenotaphs as his body was never recovered.
~
Pekin Youth, Gunner On Bomber, Is Missing
S. Sgt. Maurice Dobbins, 25, army air corps gunner, has been reported missing in action in the European area, according to a war department telegram received last night by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Everett H. Dobbins, 1005 N Capitol street.
Younger Brother Joins Up
The wire, addressed to Sgt. Dobbins' wife, who returned to her home in Pueblo, Colo., a few weeks ago, arrived just a few hours after the soldier's younger brother, Randall, had passed his first examination to become an air cadet.
The message from the adjutant general stated that Sgt. Dobbins was "reported missing in action, in European area since Mar 22. Additional information will be sent you when received".
In "Greatest Raid"
A United Press story just a week ago today reported "an American aerial assault on Wilhelmshaven naval base and submarine building and repair center in northwest Germany, and it is believed possible that Sgt. Dobbins may have been in one of the planes. The item said that the attack was described by participating pilots as the most concentrated yet undertaken by the 8th U.S air forces and that "good results" were achieved in the raid. An air corps officer said that the American planes "plastered the devil out of the target" and reported that many fires sprang up in the wake of the bombers.
Two Crashed Into Sea
Three bombers were lost, according to the story, at least two crashing into the North Sea, but many of the interesting German fighters were destroyed.
Only Saturday Mrs. Dobbins received a V-mail letter from her son, stating that he was "someplace in England" and that tho, he would like to tell her what he was doing, he couldn't. His parents believe that he had been overseas between six and seven weeks, as he was home on furlough Jan. 9 to 12, accompanied by his young wife, Lucile, whom he married in Colorado, Dec. 12, 1942. About Feb. 7 he was sent to Florida, and tho he wrote a few letters from there, it is thought he left soon for England. The letter received Saturday was dated Mar. 12 and was the first his parents had received from overseas. It was just 10 days later that he was reported missing in action.
Worked At Quaker Oats
Tho born in Chicago, Sgt. Dobbins came to Pekin with his parents in the spring of 1915, when he was a baby, and had lived here since, attending Lincoln School, Washington Junior High and Pekin Community High school. He was employed as a machine operator at the Quaker Oats company for three and a half years prior to his enlistment in the army, Mar. 21, 1942. Just a year ago and a day before he was reported missing.
Was Skilled Bomber
After three weeks at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., he was sent to Las Vegas, Nev., where he was graduated from gunnery school and received his sergeant's rating. From there he went to Tucson, Ariz.; Boise, Idaho; Wendover, Utah; Pueblo, Colo.; and Saline, Kan.. During his training he became an assistant engineer and was promoted to staff sergeant. In the new capacity he was expected to be able to take over in any position on the ship - pilot, navigator, etc. His parents believe he was an aerial gunner on a Liberator bomber, a ship carrying a crew of nine, when he was reported missing.
Telegram Came Here
In Pueblo, he met and married Miss Lucile Frasher, who came to Pekin with him on furlough, just before he was sent across. She remained in Pekin for a visit after he returned to Kansas, then to Florida, but later she went to her home in Pueblo, and is employed there now. The Dobbins believe the war department thought young Mrs. Dobbins was still in Pekin, as the wire for her came to their residence last night and they notified her of the message.
Beside his younger brother, Randall, popular PCHS senior and talented drummer, Sgt. Dobbins has an elder sister, Mrs. Jim Champion, Pekin; a younger sister, Miss Lorena Dobbins, at home, and a grandmother, Mrs. Alma Rutledge, Elmhurst, who is visiting in Pekin. Randall, 17, has been ordered to report to Rantoul tomorrow to complete his cadet examination, but he will not be called to service before his 18th birthday in October.
Pekin Daily Times March 30, 1943
Lost in Action, WW II * 506th Squadron, 44th Bomb Group
~
SSgt. Maurice H. Dobbins' name is also on the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Limburg, Holland. Cenotaph here
Both memorials are cenotaphs as his body was never recovered.
~
Pekin Youth, Gunner On Bomber, Is Missing
S. Sgt. Maurice Dobbins, 25, army air corps gunner, has been reported missing in action in the European area, according to a war department telegram received last night by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Everett H. Dobbins, 1005 N Capitol street.
Younger Brother Joins Up
The wire, addressed to Sgt. Dobbins' wife, who returned to her home in Pueblo, Colo., a few weeks ago, arrived just a few hours after the soldier's younger brother, Randall, had passed his first examination to become an air cadet.
The message from the adjutant general stated that Sgt. Dobbins was "reported missing in action, in European area since Mar 22. Additional information will be sent you when received".
In "Greatest Raid"
A United Press story just a week ago today reported "an American aerial assault on Wilhelmshaven naval base and submarine building and repair center in northwest Germany, and it is believed possible that Sgt. Dobbins may have been in one of the planes. The item said that the attack was described by participating pilots as the most concentrated yet undertaken by the 8th U.S air forces and that "good results" were achieved in the raid. An air corps officer said that the American planes "plastered the devil out of the target" and reported that many fires sprang up in the wake of the bombers.
Two Crashed Into Sea
Three bombers were lost, according to the story, at least two crashing into the North Sea, but many of the interesting German fighters were destroyed.
Only Saturday Mrs. Dobbins received a V-mail letter from her son, stating that he was "someplace in England" and that tho, he would like to tell her what he was doing, he couldn't. His parents believe that he had been overseas between six and seven weeks, as he was home on furlough Jan. 9 to 12, accompanied by his young wife, Lucile, whom he married in Colorado, Dec. 12, 1942. About Feb. 7 he was sent to Florida, and tho he wrote a few letters from there, it is thought he left soon for England. The letter received Saturday was dated Mar. 12 and was the first his parents had received from overseas. It was just 10 days later that he was reported missing in action.
Worked At Quaker Oats
Tho born in Chicago, Sgt. Dobbins came to Pekin with his parents in the spring of 1915, when he was a baby, and had lived here since, attending Lincoln School, Washington Junior High and Pekin Community High school. He was employed as a machine operator at the Quaker Oats company for three and a half years prior to his enlistment in the army, Mar. 21, 1942. Just a year ago and a day before he was reported missing.
Was Skilled Bomber
After three weeks at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., he was sent to Las Vegas, Nev., where he was graduated from gunnery school and received his sergeant's rating. From there he went to Tucson, Ariz.; Boise, Idaho; Wendover, Utah; Pueblo, Colo.; and Saline, Kan.. During his training he became an assistant engineer and was promoted to staff sergeant. In the new capacity he was expected to be able to take over in any position on the ship - pilot, navigator, etc. His parents believe he was an aerial gunner on a Liberator bomber, a ship carrying a crew of nine, when he was reported missing.
Telegram Came Here
In Pueblo, he met and married Miss Lucile Frasher, who came to Pekin with him on furlough, just before he was sent across. She remained in Pekin for a visit after he returned to Kansas, then to Florida, but later she went to her home in Pueblo, and is employed there now. The Dobbins believe the war department thought young Mrs. Dobbins was still in Pekin, as the wire for her came to their residence last night and they notified her of the message.
Beside his younger brother, Randall, popular PCHS senior and talented drummer, Sgt. Dobbins has an elder sister, Mrs. Jim Champion, Pekin; a younger sister, Miss Lorena Dobbins, at home, and a grandmother, Mrs. Alma Rutledge, Elmhurst, who is visiting in Pekin. Randall, 17, has been ordered to report to Rantoul tomorrow to complete his cadet examination, but he will not be called to service before his 18th birthday in October.
Pekin Daily Times March 30, 1943
~
SSgt. Maurice H. Dobbins' name is also on the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Limburg, Holland. Cenotaph here
Both memorials are cenotaphs as his body was never recovered.
~
Pekin Youth, Gunner On Bomber, Is Missing
S. Sgt. Maurice Dobbins, 25, army air corps gunner, has been reported missing in action in the European area, according to a war department telegram received last night by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Everett H. Dobbins, 1005 N Capitol street.
Younger Brother Joins Up
The wire, addressed to Sgt. Dobbins' wife, who returned to her home in Pueblo, Colo., a few weeks ago, arrived just a few hours after the soldier's younger brother, Randall, had passed his first examination to become an air cadet.
The message from the adjutant general stated that Sgt. Dobbins was "reported missing in action, in European area since Mar 22. Additional information will be sent you when received".
In "Greatest Raid"
A United Press story just a week ago today reported "an American aerial assault on Wilhelmshaven naval base and submarine building and repair center in northwest Germany, and it is believed possible that Sgt. Dobbins may have been in one of the planes. The item said that the attack was described by participating pilots as the most concentrated yet undertaken by the 8th U.S air forces and that "good results" were achieved in the raid. An air corps officer said that the American planes "plastered the devil out of the target" and reported that many fires sprang up in the wake of the bombers.
Two Crashed Into Sea
Three bombers were lost, according to the story, at least two crashing into the North Sea, but many of the interesting German fighters were destroyed.
Only Saturday Mrs. Dobbins received a V-mail letter from her son, stating that he was "someplace in England" and that tho, he would like to tell her what he was doing, he couldn't. His parents believe that he had been overseas between six and seven weeks, as he was home on furlough Jan. 9 to 12, accompanied by his young wife, Lucile, whom he married in Colorado, Dec. 12, 1942. About Feb. 7 he was sent to Florida, and tho he wrote a few letters from there, it is thought he left soon for England. The letter received Saturday was dated Mar. 12 and was the first his parents had received from overseas. It was just 10 days later that he was reported missing in action.
Worked At Quaker Oats
Tho born in Chicago, Sgt. Dobbins came to Pekin with his parents in the spring of 1915, when he was a baby, and had lived here since, attending Lincoln School, Washington Junior High and Pekin Community High school. He was employed as a machine operator at the Quaker Oats company for three and a half years prior to his enlistment in the army, Mar. 21, 1942. Just a year ago and a day before he was reported missing.
Was Skilled Bomber
After three weeks at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., he was sent to Las Vegas, Nev., where he was graduated from gunnery school and received his sergeant's rating. From there he went to Tucson, Ariz.; Boise, Idaho; Wendover, Utah; Pueblo, Colo.; and Saline, Kan.. During his training he became an assistant engineer and was promoted to staff sergeant. In the new capacity he was expected to be able to take over in any position on the ship - pilot, navigator, etc. His parents believe he was an aerial gunner on a Liberator bomber, a ship carrying a crew of nine, when he was reported missing.
Telegram Came Here
In Pueblo, he met and married Miss Lucile Frasher, who came to Pekin with him on furlough, just before he was sent across. She remained in Pekin for a visit after he returned to Kansas, then to Florida, but later she went to her home in Pueblo, and is employed there now. The Dobbins believe the war department thought young Mrs. Dobbins was still in Pekin, as the wire for her came to their residence last night and they notified her of the message.
Beside his younger brother, Randall, popular PCHS senior and talented drummer, Sgt. Dobbins has an elder sister, Mrs. Jim Champion, Pekin; a younger sister, Miss Lorena Dobbins, at home, and a grandmother, Mrs. Alma Rutledge, Elmhurst, who is visiting in Pekin. Randall, 17, has been ordered to report to Rantoul tomorrow to complete his cadet examination, but he will not be called to service before his 18th birthday in October.
Pekin Daily Times March 30, 1943
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