Tech. Sgt. Kooi was the flight engineer on B-24J #44-40811, assigned to the 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 492rd Bombardment Squadron.
They were part of a twelve plane formation that departed Madhaiganj, India to knock out the Geang Luang bridge in Burma. Right after bombing the target from about 300 feet the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on the left wing, which caught fire. The plane drifted to the left, lost altitude and crashed 25 miles southwest of Bhre, Thailand. All aboard were killed.
Kooi had flown 35 combat missions and received the Air Medal.
The crew KIA:
● 1LT Charles E Mead, O-694841, NY, Pilot
● 2LT Louis W Cochran, O-764231, NY, Co-Pilot
● 2LT Frank B Schrump, O-703401, CT, Bombardier
● 2LT Albert J Sita, O-707340, MA, Navigator
● SSGT Santo J Beutecale, 39014707, CA, Aerial Gunner
● SSGT Carl W Eickhorst, 36650569, IL, Asst. Engineer-Gunner
● TSGT Robert E Kooi, 36458906, MI, Flight Engineer
● TSGT Lennard M Litzell, 37307245, MN, Aerial Gunner
● SSGT Russell V Randall, 12031238, NY, Aerial Gunner
● TSGT Leo J Ullmann, 12084339, NY, Radio Operator
● William George Duff, British War Correspondent (RAF Press Officer)
~
Enlisted at Kalamazoo, Michigan, March 29, 1943.
They were part of a twelve plane formation that departed Madhaiganj, India to knock out the Geang Luang bridge in Burma. Right after bombing the target from about 300 feet the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on the left wing, which caught fire. The plane drifted to the left, lost altitude and crashed 25 miles southwest of Bhre, Thailand. All aboard were killed.
Kooi had flown 35 combat missions and received the Air Medal.
The crew KIA:
● 1LT Charles E Mead, O-694841, NY, Pilot
● 2LT Louis W Cochran, O-764231, NY, Co-Pilot
● 2LT Frank B Schrump, O-703401, CT, Bombardier
● 2LT Albert J Sita, O-707340, MA, Navigator
● SSGT Santo J Beutecale, 39014707, CA, Aerial Gunner
● SSGT Carl W Eickhorst, 36650569, IL, Asst. Engineer-Gunner
● TSGT Robert E Kooi, 36458906, MI, Flight Engineer
● TSGT Lennard M Litzell, 37307245, MN, Aerial Gunner
● SSGT Russell V Randall, 12031238, NY, Aerial Gunner
● TSGT Leo J Ullmann, 12084339, NY, Radio Operator
● William George Duff, British War Correspondent (RAF Press Officer)
~
Enlisted at Kalamazoo, Michigan, March 29, 1943.
Tech. Sgt. Kooi was the flight engineer on B-24J #44-40811, assigned to the 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 492rd Bombardment Squadron.
They were part of a twelve plane formation that departed Madhaiganj, India to knock out the Geang Luang bridge in Burma. Right after bombing the target from about 300 feet the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on the left wing, which caught fire. The plane drifted to the left, lost altitude and crashed 25 miles southwest of Bhre, Thailand. All aboard were killed.
Kooi had flown 35 combat missions and received the Air Medal.
The crew KIA:
● 1LT Charles E Mead, O-694841, NY, Pilot
● 2LT Louis W Cochran, O-764231, NY, Co-Pilot
● 2LT Frank B Schrump, O-703401, CT, Bombardier
● 2LT Albert J Sita, O-707340, MA, Navigator
● SSGT Santo J Beutecale, 39014707, CA, Aerial Gunner
● SSGT Carl W Eickhorst, 36650569, IL, Asst. Engineer-Gunner
● TSGT Robert E Kooi, 36458906, MI, Flight Engineer
● TSGT Lennard M Litzell, 37307245, MN, Aerial Gunner
● SSGT Russell V Randall, 12031238, NY, Aerial Gunner
● TSGT Leo J Ullmann, 12084339, NY, Radio Operator
● William George Duff, British War Correspondent (RAF Press Officer)
~
Enlisted at Kalamazoo, Michigan, March 29, 1943.
They were part of a twelve plane formation that departed Madhaiganj, India to knock out the Geang Luang bridge in Burma. Right after bombing the target from about 300 feet the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on the left wing, which caught fire. The plane drifted to the left, lost altitude and crashed 25 miles southwest of Bhre, Thailand. All aboard were killed.
Kooi had flown 35 combat missions and received the Air Medal.
The crew KIA:
● 1LT Charles E Mead, O-694841, NY, Pilot
● 2LT Louis W Cochran, O-764231, NY, Co-Pilot
● 2LT Frank B Schrump, O-703401, CT, Bombardier
● 2LT Albert J Sita, O-707340, MA, Navigator
● SSGT Santo J Beutecale, 39014707, CA, Aerial Gunner
● SSGT Carl W Eickhorst, 36650569, IL, Asst. Engineer-Gunner
● TSGT Robert E Kooi, 36458906, MI, Flight Engineer
● TSGT Lennard M Litzell, 37307245, MN, Aerial Gunner
● SSGT Russell V Randall, 12031238, NY, Aerial Gunner
● TSGT Leo J Ullmann, 12084339, NY, Radio Operator
● William George Duff, British War Correspondent (RAF Press Officer)
~
Enlisted at Kalamazoo, Michigan, March 29, 1943.
Inscription
TSGT, 492 AAF BOMB SQ, 7 BOMB GP WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Burial November 22, 1949.
Family Members
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