Robert F. Angell
Service # O-407635
Rank: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 530th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group
Entered Service From: Richmond, Virginia
Date of Death: 15 February 1944, Rangoon Central Jail, Rangoon, East Yangon District, Yangon Region, Burma (now Myanmar).
Status: Missing
Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing – United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of Earle Fiske Angell & Edna Groff.
1920 United States Federal Census (28 January 1920): White Sulphur Springs, Meagher County, Montana (sheet 2A, family 44, South Main and Third Street) – Robert F. Angell (6/12 Montana).
1930 United States Federal Census (18 April 1930): Brookland, Henrico County, Virginia (sheet 21A, family 472, Hilliard Road) – Robert F. Angell (10 Montana).
Robert F. Angell attended John Marshall High School in Richmond, Virginia and Jefferson High School, in Roanoke, graduating from Jefferson in June 1937. He then went of to study at Columbia College, in Washington, D.C.
Robert enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard (Richmond Light Infantry Blues). He served from 11 November 1938 to 02 February 1941. During that time he rose in rank from Private to Private First Class to Corporal.
1940 United States Federal Census (26 April 1940): West Hampton, Tuckahoe Township, Henrico County, Virginia (sheet 19B, household 420) – Robert F. Angell (20 Montana, clerk, U.S. Treasury Department). His family had lived in the same place in 1935. Robert had completed four years of high school.
A member of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, Robert attended officer candidate school, graduating as a second lieutenant 03 February 1941.
17 Officers To Attend Army School
43 Enlisted Men Also to Be Trained
Two Groups of junior officers and men of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth Infantry Regiment of the Virginia National Guard left Richmond yesterday for Fort George G. Meade – the officers to attend a divisional school ... The 17 junior officers, who were scheduled to report to Twenty-Ninth Division Headquarters by 4 P.M. were the following second lieutenants: ... Robert F. Angell ... Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond , Virginia), Monday, 10 February 1941, page 4.
He transferred to the Air Force in May 1942.
Angell, Toler Train At Randolph Field
First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earle F. Angell, 0f 3013 Monument Ave., is at Randolph Field, Texas , "the West Point of the Air," training as a pilot in the Army Air Force.
The Richmonder was commissioned a lieutenant in the Infantry in 1941, and was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, before beginning his elementary flight training at Hicks Field, Texas ... Source: The Richmond News Leader (Richmond, Virginia), Saturday, 22 August 1942, page 3.
Lt. Angell received his wings at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, 13 December 1942.
He went overseas in July, 1943. Robert F. Angell was assigned to the 530th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 311th Fighter Bomber Group, 10th Air Force, Dinjan Airfield, Assam, India. The 311th Fighter-Bomber Group served in the China-Burma-India Theater. They were nicknamed the "Yellow Scorpions" by the Japanese.
SQUADRON NAMED BY JAPS OVER RADIO
10TH AIR FORCE BASE - Ever since it started winning a reputation for itself by knocking down Japanese planes over Burma, one of the crack P-51 (Mustang) fighter-bomber squadron of the 10th USAAF, Eastern Air Command, has been seeking a suitable nickname, but without notable results. Then one evening suddenly out of the thin air, it got its nickname - "Yellow Scorpions" - and, from all people, the Japanese themselves. Source: 530th Fighter Squadron History
Lieutenant Angell, flying a P-51A-1 (43-06040) Mustang was shot down on 28 November 1943 by gunfire from a Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 (Oscar) 40 miles north northwest of Rangoon, Burma while escorting bombers on mission to Rangoon, Burma (MACR 1211).
"We were at 18,000 feet, 1150 hours, 28 November 1943, approximately forty miles North North West of RANGOON on an escort mission when I last saw Lt. ANGELL. There was one Zero in the vicinity, but Lt. ANGELL was not having any trouble at the time. I did not see Lt. ANGELL again." Statement of 2nd Lt. Kenneth G. Granger, Air Corps.
He was officially listed as missing in action.
Lt. Angell Missing Since November 28
Lt. Robert F. (Buddy) Angell, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Angell, formerly of Roanoke but now of Richmond, has been missing in action since November 28, his sister, Mrs. James W. Ridout, of 375 Washington avenue, S.W. has been notified... Source The World-News (Roanoke, Virginia), Wednesday, 08 December 1943, page 1.
Lt. Robert F. Angell was captured and taken prisoner by the Japanese. He died 15 February 1944 in the Rangoon Central Jail and was buried in Rangoon Cantonment Cemetery, approximately one mile from the jail .
Medal Given Richmonder, Missing Flyer
The award of the Air Medal to First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, of 3013 Monument ave., who has been missing in action since November, 1943, was recently announced by the Tenth Air Force Headquarters in India.
Lieutenant Angell was a fighter-bomber pilot with a Tenth Air Force Fighter Bomber Squadron, operating in the Third Tactical Air Force, Eastern Air Command. He attended the John Marshall High School here and Columbia College at Washington, D. C. Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), Wednesday, 26 July 1944, page 7.
Richmonders Awarded Medals at Air Base
Four Richmonders ... were among the six men given Army Air Force awards yesterday afternoon at the Richmond Army Air Base in special retreat ceremonies ... The Richmonders to whom awards were made at the base ceremonies are: First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, missing in action, the Air Medal ... Lieutenant Angell's medal was received by his mother, Mrs. Edna G. Angell, of 3013 Monument Ave.
Lieutenant Angell's citation for the Air Medal said the award was made for participation is sustained combat missions over enemy-held territory of Northern Burma from October 12 and November 29, 1942. In the execution of the flights he with eagerness and vigor attacked enemy installations of material and troop concentrations, inflicting severe damage on them as well as bridges, airdromes, and communication facilities, the citation adds. Source: The Richmond News Leader (Richmond, Virginia), Friday, 02 March 1945, page 8.
Lieutenant Angell Dies in Jap Camp
Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, who had been previously reported as missing in action since November 29, 1943, died February 25, 1944, while a prisoner of the Japanese in Rangoon, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earle F. Angell, of 2900 Monument Ave., have been advised by the War Department.
Lieutenant Angell, a P-51 Mustang pilot, who was reported missing on a mission while escorting bombers over Rangoon, attended John Marshall High School, Jefferson High School, Roanoke and Columbia College, in Washington.
A member of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, he attended officer candidate school, graduating as a second lieutenant February 3, 1941. He transferred to the Air Force in May 1942, and received his wings at Brooks Field, December 13, 1942.
He went overseas in July, 1943, where he was attached to the 530th Squadron of the 311th Fighter-Bomber Group, which served in the China-Burma-India Theater. He had been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial combat. Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), Saturday, 08 September 1945, page 5.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
His remains were exhumed after the war by the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) and were place aboard a C-47B-1-DK Dakota (Serial Number 43-48308) on 17 May 1946.
Very early in the morning on 17 May 1946, it departed from Rangoon Airfield (Yangon) bound for Barrackpore Airfield near Calcutta. The crew of three including a pilot, check pilot and radio operator, were from the 1304th AAF Base Unit, India Wing, Air Transport Command. Also onboard were eight passengers, seven of which were *American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) Personnel. On board was the personal baggage of the 11 crew and passengers, two life rafts and 11 parachutes and an unknown number of life vests.
In addition, 12 cases containing the remains of 37 bodies (other sources state 38) from the Rangoon POW Prison, plus five unidentified sets of remains exhumed from an isolated location, (crew members of B-24 "Bugs Bunny" 42-73222).
The aircraft's intended route was a routine flight from Rangoon, Burma to Barrakapore/Calcutta, India. The weather conditions were poor for flying, with severe thunder storms, line squalls and heavy monsoon rains. The normal flight time for this route would have been about 4-1/2 hours, but due to the weather, the pilot estimated that it would take about 5-1/2 hours.
The last contact with the C-47 was over Akyab Island (Sittwe) and the pilot radioed in he was heading northeast over land en route to Barrackpore Airfield. The plane was never heard from again.
This missing aircraft was coded ATC 2-46. After being reported missing, extensive searches were flown to find this aircraft by both RAF and USAAF aircraft between May 18 - 28, totaling 275 hours flown. On 29 May, the search was officially abandoned.
The crew and passengers were officially declared dead the day of the mission and are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
*Passengers Lieutenant Donald Dutton and Lieutenant Henry Derbyshire were enroute to Calcutta to attend an American Graves Registration Service conference and had in their possession complete information of air-wrecks, Japanese executions and American isolated burials obtained after weeks of investigation in Rangoon, Siam, Malay Straits, Java and the Andaman Islands. The loss of these records, together with the loss of these experienced AGRS officers and inlisted men, was a huge blow to the Search and Recovery activities occuring in the CBI theater.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On 05 November 2009, the crash site of C-47 #43-48308 was discovered by MIA recovery specialist Clayton Kuhles.
Latest update - Agartala, 08 September 2013: The US delegation which has been visiting Tripura since 05 September to inspect relics of a crashed American aircraft in the jungles of Dhumacherra in Dhalai district left the state on Saturday. Sources said, they carried DNA samples of bodies from all 11 coffins in a cemetery close to the crash site. These bodies are claimed to be mortal remains of the crew of a C-47-B carrier which crashed on its way from Rangoon to 'Calcutta' on 17 May 1946.
The aircraft was first discovered on 05 November 2009 by Clayton Kuhles of the 'Missing in Action', aided by 32 TSR personnel. The cemetery was stated to have housed 12 coffins, most of which were possibly stuffed with multiple bodies.
Service # O-407635
Rank: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 530th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group
Entered Service From: Richmond, Virginia
Date of Death: 15 February 1944, Rangoon Central Jail, Rangoon, East Yangon District, Yangon Region, Burma (now Myanmar).
Status: Missing
Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing – United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of Earle Fiske Angell & Edna Groff.
1920 United States Federal Census (28 January 1920): White Sulphur Springs, Meagher County, Montana (sheet 2A, family 44, South Main and Third Street) – Robert F. Angell (6/12 Montana).
1930 United States Federal Census (18 April 1930): Brookland, Henrico County, Virginia (sheet 21A, family 472, Hilliard Road) – Robert F. Angell (10 Montana).
Robert F. Angell attended John Marshall High School in Richmond, Virginia and Jefferson High School, in Roanoke, graduating from Jefferson in June 1937. He then went of to study at Columbia College, in Washington, D.C.
Robert enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard (Richmond Light Infantry Blues). He served from 11 November 1938 to 02 February 1941. During that time he rose in rank from Private to Private First Class to Corporal.
1940 United States Federal Census (26 April 1940): West Hampton, Tuckahoe Township, Henrico County, Virginia (sheet 19B, household 420) – Robert F. Angell (20 Montana, clerk, U.S. Treasury Department). His family had lived in the same place in 1935. Robert had completed four years of high school.
A member of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, Robert attended officer candidate school, graduating as a second lieutenant 03 February 1941.
17 Officers To Attend Army School
43 Enlisted Men Also to Be Trained
Two Groups of junior officers and men of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth Infantry Regiment of the Virginia National Guard left Richmond yesterday for Fort George G. Meade – the officers to attend a divisional school ... The 17 junior officers, who were scheduled to report to Twenty-Ninth Division Headquarters by 4 P.M. were the following second lieutenants: ... Robert F. Angell ... Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond , Virginia), Monday, 10 February 1941, page 4.
He transferred to the Air Force in May 1942.
Angell, Toler Train At Randolph Field
First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earle F. Angell, 0f 3013 Monument Ave., is at Randolph Field, Texas , "the West Point of the Air," training as a pilot in the Army Air Force.
The Richmonder was commissioned a lieutenant in the Infantry in 1941, and was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, before beginning his elementary flight training at Hicks Field, Texas ... Source: The Richmond News Leader (Richmond, Virginia), Saturday, 22 August 1942, page 3.
Lt. Angell received his wings at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, 13 December 1942.
He went overseas in July, 1943. Robert F. Angell was assigned to the 530th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 311th Fighter Bomber Group, 10th Air Force, Dinjan Airfield, Assam, India. The 311th Fighter-Bomber Group served in the China-Burma-India Theater. They were nicknamed the "Yellow Scorpions" by the Japanese.
SQUADRON NAMED BY JAPS OVER RADIO
10TH AIR FORCE BASE - Ever since it started winning a reputation for itself by knocking down Japanese planes over Burma, one of the crack P-51 (Mustang) fighter-bomber squadron of the 10th USAAF, Eastern Air Command, has been seeking a suitable nickname, but without notable results. Then one evening suddenly out of the thin air, it got its nickname - "Yellow Scorpions" - and, from all people, the Japanese themselves. Source: 530th Fighter Squadron History
Lieutenant Angell, flying a P-51A-1 (43-06040) Mustang was shot down on 28 November 1943 by gunfire from a Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 (Oscar) 40 miles north northwest of Rangoon, Burma while escorting bombers on mission to Rangoon, Burma (MACR 1211).
"We were at 18,000 feet, 1150 hours, 28 November 1943, approximately forty miles North North West of RANGOON on an escort mission when I last saw Lt. ANGELL. There was one Zero in the vicinity, but Lt. ANGELL was not having any trouble at the time. I did not see Lt. ANGELL again." Statement of 2nd Lt. Kenneth G. Granger, Air Corps.
He was officially listed as missing in action.
Lt. Angell Missing Since November 28
Lt. Robert F. (Buddy) Angell, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Angell, formerly of Roanoke but now of Richmond, has been missing in action since November 28, his sister, Mrs. James W. Ridout, of 375 Washington avenue, S.W. has been notified... Source The World-News (Roanoke, Virginia), Wednesday, 08 December 1943, page 1.
Lt. Robert F. Angell was captured and taken prisoner by the Japanese. He died 15 February 1944 in the Rangoon Central Jail and was buried in Rangoon Cantonment Cemetery, approximately one mile from the jail .
Medal Given Richmonder, Missing Flyer
The award of the Air Medal to First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, of 3013 Monument ave., who has been missing in action since November, 1943, was recently announced by the Tenth Air Force Headquarters in India.
Lieutenant Angell was a fighter-bomber pilot with a Tenth Air Force Fighter Bomber Squadron, operating in the Third Tactical Air Force, Eastern Air Command. He attended the John Marshall High School here and Columbia College at Washington, D. C. Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), Wednesday, 26 July 1944, page 7.
Richmonders Awarded Medals at Air Base
Four Richmonders ... were among the six men given Army Air Force awards yesterday afternoon at the Richmond Army Air Base in special retreat ceremonies ... The Richmonders to whom awards were made at the base ceremonies are: First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, missing in action, the Air Medal ... Lieutenant Angell's medal was received by his mother, Mrs. Edna G. Angell, of 3013 Monument Ave.
Lieutenant Angell's citation for the Air Medal said the award was made for participation is sustained combat missions over enemy-held territory of Northern Burma from October 12 and November 29, 1942. In the execution of the flights he with eagerness and vigor attacked enemy installations of material and troop concentrations, inflicting severe damage on them as well as bridges, airdromes, and communication facilities, the citation adds. Source: The Richmond News Leader (Richmond, Virginia), Friday, 02 March 1945, page 8.
Lieutenant Angell Dies in Jap Camp
Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, who had been previously reported as missing in action since November 29, 1943, died February 25, 1944, while a prisoner of the Japanese in Rangoon, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earle F. Angell, of 2900 Monument Ave., have been advised by the War Department.
Lieutenant Angell, a P-51 Mustang pilot, who was reported missing on a mission while escorting bombers over Rangoon, attended John Marshall High School, Jefferson High School, Roanoke and Columbia College, in Washington.
A member of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, he attended officer candidate school, graduating as a second lieutenant February 3, 1941. He transferred to the Air Force in May 1942, and received his wings at Brooks Field, December 13, 1942.
He went overseas in July, 1943, where he was attached to the 530th Squadron of the 311th Fighter-Bomber Group, which served in the China-Burma-India Theater. He had been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial combat. Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), Saturday, 08 September 1945, page 5.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
His remains were exhumed after the war by the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) and were place aboard a C-47B-1-DK Dakota (Serial Number 43-48308) on 17 May 1946.
Very early in the morning on 17 May 1946, it departed from Rangoon Airfield (Yangon) bound for Barrackpore Airfield near Calcutta. The crew of three including a pilot, check pilot and radio operator, were from the 1304th AAF Base Unit, India Wing, Air Transport Command. Also onboard were eight passengers, seven of which were *American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) Personnel. On board was the personal baggage of the 11 crew and passengers, two life rafts and 11 parachutes and an unknown number of life vests.
In addition, 12 cases containing the remains of 37 bodies (other sources state 38) from the Rangoon POW Prison, plus five unidentified sets of remains exhumed from an isolated location, (crew members of B-24 "Bugs Bunny" 42-73222).
The aircraft's intended route was a routine flight from Rangoon, Burma to Barrakapore/Calcutta, India. The weather conditions were poor for flying, with severe thunder storms, line squalls and heavy monsoon rains. The normal flight time for this route would have been about 4-1/2 hours, but due to the weather, the pilot estimated that it would take about 5-1/2 hours.
The last contact with the C-47 was over Akyab Island (Sittwe) and the pilot radioed in he was heading northeast over land en route to Barrackpore Airfield. The plane was never heard from again.
This missing aircraft was coded ATC 2-46. After being reported missing, extensive searches were flown to find this aircraft by both RAF and USAAF aircraft between May 18 - 28, totaling 275 hours flown. On 29 May, the search was officially abandoned.
The crew and passengers were officially declared dead the day of the mission and are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
*Passengers Lieutenant Donald Dutton and Lieutenant Henry Derbyshire were enroute to Calcutta to attend an American Graves Registration Service conference and had in their possession complete information of air-wrecks, Japanese executions and American isolated burials obtained after weeks of investigation in Rangoon, Siam, Malay Straits, Java and the Andaman Islands. The loss of these records, together with the loss of these experienced AGRS officers and inlisted men, was a huge blow to the Search and Recovery activities occuring in the CBI theater.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On 05 November 2009, the crash site of C-47 #43-48308 was discovered by MIA recovery specialist Clayton Kuhles.
Latest update - Agartala, 08 September 2013: The US delegation which has been visiting Tripura since 05 September to inspect relics of a crashed American aircraft in the jungles of Dhumacherra in Dhalai district left the state on Saturday. Sources said, they carried DNA samples of bodies from all 11 coffins in a cemetery close to the crash site. These bodies are claimed to be mortal remains of the crew of a C-47-B carrier which crashed on its way from Rangoon to 'Calcutta' on 17 May 1946.
The aircraft was first discovered on 05 November 2009 by Clayton Kuhles of the 'Missing in Action', aided by 32 TSR personnel. The cemetery was stated to have housed 12 coffins, most of which were possibly stuffed with multiple bodies.
Robert F. Angell
Service # O-407635
Rank: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 530th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group
Entered Service From: Richmond, Virginia
Date of Death: 15 February 1944, Rangoon Central Jail, Rangoon, East Yangon District, Yangon Region, Burma (now Myanmar).
Status: Missing
Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing – United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Son of Earle Fiske Angell & Edna Groff.
1920 United States Federal Census (28 January 1920): White Sulphur Springs, Meagher County, Montana (sheet 2A, family 44, South Main and Third Street) – Robert F. Angell (6/12 Montana).
1930 United States Federal Census (18 April 1930): Brookland, Henrico County, Virginia (sheet 21A, family 472, Hilliard Road) – Robert F. Angell (10 Montana).
Robert F. Angell attended John Marshall High School in Richmond, Virginia and Jefferson High School, in Roanoke, graduating from Jefferson in June 1937. He then went of to study at Columbia College, in Washington, D.C.
Robert enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard (Richmond Light Infantry Blues). He served from 11 November 1938 to 02 February 1941. During that time he rose in rank from Private to Private First Class to Corporal.
1940 United States Federal Census (26 April 1940): West Hampton, Tuckahoe Township, Henrico County, Virginia (sheet 19B, household 420) – Robert F. Angell (20 Montana, clerk, U.S. Treasury Department). His family had lived in the same place in 1935. Robert had completed four years of high school.
A member of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, Robert attended officer candidate school, graduating as a second lieutenant 03 February 1941.
17 Officers To Attend Army School
43 Enlisted Men Also to Be Trained
Two Groups of junior officers and men of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth Infantry Regiment of the Virginia National Guard left Richmond yesterday for Fort George G. Meade – the officers to attend a divisional school ... The 17 junior officers, who were scheduled to report to Twenty-Ninth Division Headquarters by 4 P.M. were the following second lieutenants: ... Robert F. Angell ... Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond , Virginia), Monday, 10 February 1941, page 4.
He transferred to the Air Force in May 1942.
Angell, Toler Train At Randolph Field
First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earle F. Angell, 0f 3013 Monument Ave., is at Randolph Field, Texas , "the West Point of the Air," training as a pilot in the Army Air Force.
The Richmonder was commissioned a lieutenant in the Infantry in 1941, and was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, before beginning his elementary flight training at Hicks Field, Texas ... Source: The Richmond News Leader (Richmond, Virginia), Saturday, 22 August 1942, page 3.
Lt. Angell received his wings at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, 13 December 1942.
He went overseas in July, 1943. Robert F. Angell was assigned to the 530th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 311th Fighter Bomber Group, 10th Air Force, Dinjan Airfield, Assam, India. The 311th Fighter-Bomber Group served in the China-Burma-India Theater. They were nicknamed the "Yellow Scorpions" by the Japanese.
SQUADRON NAMED BY JAPS OVER RADIO
10TH AIR FORCE BASE - Ever since it started winning a reputation for itself by knocking down Japanese planes over Burma, one of the crack P-51 (Mustang) fighter-bomber squadron of the 10th USAAF, Eastern Air Command, has been seeking a suitable nickname, but without notable results. Then one evening suddenly out of the thin air, it got its nickname - "Yellow Scorpions" - and, from all people, the Japanese themselves. Source: 530th Fighter Squadron History
Lieutenant Angell, flying a P-51A-1 (43-06040) Mustang was shot down on 28 November 1943 by gunfire from a Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 (Oscar) 40 miles north northwest of Rangoon, Burma while escorting bombers on mission to Rangoon, Burma (MACR 1211).
"We were at 18,000 feet, 1150 hours, 28 November 1943, approximately forty miles North North West of RANGOON on an escort mission when I last saw Lt. ANGELL. There was one Zero in the vicinity, but Lt. ANGELL was not having any trouble at the time. I did not see Lt. ANGELL again." Statement of 2nd Lt. Kenneth G. Granger, Air Corps.
He was officially listed as missing in action.
Lt. Angell Missing Since November 28
Lt. Robert F. (Buddy) Angell, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Angell, formerly of Roanoke but now of Richmond, has been missing in action since November 28, his sister, Mrs. James W. Ridout, of 375 Washington avenue, S.W. has been notified... Source The World-News (Roanoke, Virginia), Wednesday, 08 December 1943, page 1.
Lt. Robert F. Angell was captured and taken prisoner by the Japanese. He died 15 February 1944 in the Rangoon Central Jail and was buried in Rangoon Cantonment Cemetery, approximately one mile from the jail .
Medal Given Richmonder, Missing Flyer
The award of the Air Medal to First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, of 3013 Monument ave., who has been missing in action since November, 1943, was recently announced by the Tenth Air Force Headquarters in India.
Lieutenant Angell was a fighter-bomber pilot with a Tenth Air Force Fighter Bomber Squadron, operating in the Third Tactical Air Force, Eastern Air Command. He attended the John Marshall High School here and Columbia College at Washington, D. C. Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), Wednesday, 26 July 1944, page 7.
Richmonders Awarded Medals at Air Base
Four Richmonders ... were among the six men given Army Air Force awards yesterday afternoon at the Richmond Army Air Base in special retreat ceremonies ... The Richmonders to whom awards were made at the base ceremonies are: First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, missing in action, the Air Medal ... Lieutenant Angell's medal was received by his mother, Mrs. Edna G. Angell, of 3013 Monument Ave.
Lieutenant Angell's citation for the Air Medal said the award was made for participation is sustained combat missions over enemy-held territory of Northern Burma from October 12 and November 29, 1942. In the execution of the flights he with eagerness and vigor attacked enemy installations of material and troop concentrations, inflicting severe damage on them as well as bridges, airdromes, and communication facilities, the citation adds. Source: The Richmond News Leader (Richmond, Virginia), Friday, 02 March 1945, page 8.
Lieutenant Angell Dies in Jap Camp
Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, who had been previously reported as missing in action since November 29, 1943, died February 25, 1944, while a prisoner of the Japanese in Rangoon, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earle F. Angell, of 2900 Monument Ave., have been advised by the War Department.
Lieutenant Angell, a P-51 Mustang pilot, who was reported missing on a mission while escorting bombers over Rangoon, attended John Marshall High School, Jefferson High School, Roanoke and Columbia College, in Washington.
A member of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, he attended officer candidate school, graduating as a second lieutenant February 3, 1941. He transferred to the Air Force in May 1942, and received his wings at Brooks Field, December 13, 1942.
He went overseas in July, 1943, where he was attached to the 530th Squadron of the 311th Fighter-Bomber Group, which served in the China-Burma-India Theater. He had been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial combat. Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), Saturday, 08 September 1945, page 5.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
His remains were exhumed after the war by the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) and were place aboard a C-47B-1-DK Dakota (Serial Number 43-48308) on 17 May 1946.
Very early in the morning on 17 May 1946, it departed from Rangoon Airfield (Yangon) bound for Barrackpore Airfield near Calcutta. The crew of three including a pilot, check pilot and radio operator, were from the 1304th AAF Base Unit, India Wing, Air Transport Command. Also onboard were eight passengers, seven of which were *American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) Personnel. On board was the personal baggage of the 11 crew and passengers, two life rafts and 11 parachutes and an unknown number of life vests.
In addition, 12 cases containing the remains of 37 bodies (other sources state 38) from the Rangoon POW Prison, plus five unidentified sets of remains exhumed from an isolated location, (crew members of B-24 "Bugs Bunny" 42-73222).
The aircraft's intended route was a routine flight from Rangoon, Burma to Barrakapore/Calcutta, India. The weather conditions were poor for flying, with severe thunder storms, line squalls and heavy monsoon rains. The normal flight time for this route would have been about 4-1/2 hours, but due to the weather, the pilot estimated that it would take about 5-1/2 hours.
The last contact with the C-47 was over Akyab Island (Sittwe) and the pilot radioed in he was heading northeast over land en route to Barrackpore Airfield. The plane was never heard from again.
This missing aircraft was coded ATC 2-46. After being reported missing, extensive searches were flown to find this aircraft by both RAF and USAAF aircraft between May 18 - 28, totaling 275 hours flown. On 29 May, the search was officially abandoned.
The crew and passengers were officially declared dead the day of the mission and are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
*Passengers Lieutenant Donald Dutton and Lieutenant Henry Derbyshire were enroute to Calcutta to attend an American Graves Registration Service conference and had in their possession complete information of air-wrecks, Japanese executions and American isolated burials obtained after weeks of investigation in Rangoon, Siam, Malay Straits, Java and the Andaman Islands. The loss of these records, together with the loss of these experienced AGRS officers and inlisted men, was a huge blow to the Search and Recovery activities occuring in the CBI theater.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On 05 November 2009, the crash site of C-47 #43-48308 was discovered by MIA recovery specialist Clayton Kuhles.
Latest update - Agartala, 08 September 2013: The US delegation which has been visiting Tripura since 05 September to inspect relics of a crashed American aircraft in the jungles of Dhumacherra in Dhalai district left the state on Saturday. Sources said, they carried DNA samples of bodies from all 11 coffins in a cemetery close to the crash site. These bodies are claimed to be mortal remains of the crew of a C-47-B carrier which crashed on its way from Rangoon to 'Calcutta' on 17 May 1946.
The aircraft was first discovered on 05 November 2009 by Clayton Kuhles of the 'Missing in Action', aided by 32 TSR personnel. The cemetery was stated to have housed 12 coffins, most of which were possibly stuffed with multiple bodies.
Service # O-407635
Rank: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 530th Fighter Squadron, 311th Fighter Group
Entered Service From: Richmond, Virginia
Date of Death: 15 February 1944, Rangoon Central Jail, Rangoon, East Yangon District, Yangon Region, Burma (now Myanmar).
Status: Missing
Memorialized: Tablets of the Missing – United States Army and Army Air Forces at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
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Son of Earle Fiske Angell & Edna Groff.
1920 United States Federal Census (28 January 1920): White Sulphur Springs, Meagher County, Montana (sheet 2A, family 44, South Main and Third Street) – Robert F. Angell (6/12 Montana).
1930 United States Federal Census (18 April 1930): Brookland, Henrico County, Virginia (sheet 21A, family 472, Hilliard Road) – Robert F. Angell (10 Montana).
Robert F. Angell attended John Marshall High School in Richmond, Virginia and Jefferson High School, in Roanoke, graduating from Jefferson in June 1937. He then went of to study at Columbia College, in Washington, D.C.
Robert enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard (Richmond Light Infantry Blues). He served from 11 November 1938 to 02 February 1941. During that time he rose in rank from Private to Private First Class to Corporal.
1940 United States Federal Census (26 April 1940): West Hampton, Tuckahoe Township, Henrico County, Virginia (sheet 19B, household 420) – Robert F. Angell (20 Montana, clerk, U.S. Treasury Department). His family had lived in the same place in 1935. Robert had completed four years of high school.
A member of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, Robert attended officer candidate school, graduating as a second lieutenant 03 February 1941.
17 Officers To Attend Army School
43 Enlisted Men Also to Be Trained
Two Groups of junior officers and men of the One Hundred and Seventy-Sixth Infantry Regiment of the Virginia National Guard left Richmond yesterday for Fort George G. Meade – the officers to attend a divisional school ... The 17 junior officers, who were scheduled to report to Twenty-Ninth Division Headquarters by 4 P.M. were the following second lieutenants: ... Robert F. Angell ... Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond , Virginia), Monday, 10 February 1941, page 4.
He transferred to the Air Force in May 1942.
Angell, Toler Train At Randolph Field
First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Earle F. Angell, 0f 3013 Monument Ave., is at Randolph Field, Texas , "the West Point of the Air," training as a pilot in the Army Air Force.
The Richmonder was commissioned a lieutenant in the Infantry in 1941, and was stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, before beginning his elementary flight training at Hicks Field, Texas ... Source: The Richmond News Leader (Richmond, Virginia), Saturday, 22 August 1942, page 3.
Lt. Angell received his wings at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, 13 December 1942.
He went overseas in July, 1943. Robert F. Angell was assigned to the 530th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 311th Fighter Bomber Group, 10th Air Force, Dinjan Airfield, Assam, India. The 311th Fighter-Bomber Group served in the China-Burma-India Theater. They were nicknamed the "Yellow Scorpions" by the Japanese.
SQUADRON NAMED BY JAPS OVER RADIO
10TH AIR FORCE BASE - Ever since it started winning a reputation for itself by knocking down Japanese planes over Burma, one of the crack P-51 (Mustang) fighter-bomber squadron of the 10th USAAF, Eastern Air Command, has been seeking a suitable nickname, but without notable results. Then one evening suddenly out of the thin air, it got its nickname - "Yellow Scorpions" - and, from all people, the Japanese themselves. Source: 530th Fighter Squadron History
Lieutenant Angell, flying a P-51A-1 (43-06040) Mustang was shot down on 28 November 1943 by gunfire from a Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 (Oscar) 40 miles north northwest of Rangoon, Burma while escorting bombers on mission to Rangoon, Burma (MACR 1211).
"We were at 18,000 feet, 1150 hours, 28 November 1943, approximately forty miles North North West of RANGOON on an escort mission when I last saw Lt. ANGELL. There was one Zero in the vicinity, but Lt. ANGELL was not having any trouble at the time. I did not see Lt. ANGELL again." Statement of 2nd Lt. Kenneth G. Granger, Air Corps.
He was officially listed as missing in action.
Lt. Angell Missing Since November 28
Lt. Robert F. (Buddy) Angell, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Angell, formerly of Roanoke but now of Richmond, has been missing in action since November 28, his sister, Mrs. James W. Ridout, of 375 Washington avenue, S.W. has been notified... Source The World-News (Roanoke, Virginia), Wednesday, 08 December 1943, page 1.
Lt. Robert F. Angell was captured and taken prisoner by the Japanese. He died 15 February 1944 in the Rangoon Central Jail and was buried in Rangoon Cantonment Cemetery, approximately one mile from the jail .
Medal Given Richmonder, Missing Flyer
The award of the Air Medal to First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, of 3013 Monument ave., who has been missing in action since November, 1943, was recently announced by the Tenth Air Force Headquarters in India.
Lieutenant Angell was a fighter-bomber pilot with a Tenth Air Force Fighter Bomber Squadron, operating in the Third Tactical Air Force, Eastern Air Command. He attended the John Marshall High School here and Columbia College at Washington, D. C. Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), Wednesday, 26 July 1944, page 7.
Richmonders Awarded Medals at Air Base
Four Richmonders ... were among the six men given Army Air Force awards yesterday afternoon at the Richmond Army Air Base in special retreat ceremonies ... The Richmonders to whom awards were made at the base ceremonies are: First Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, missing in action, the Air Medal ... Lieutenant Angell's medal was received by his mother, Mrs. Edna G. Angell, of 3013 Monument Ave.
Lieutenant Angell's citation for the Air Medal said the award was made for participation is sustained combat missions over enemy-held territory of Northern Burma from October 12 and November 29, 1942. In the execution of the flights he with eagerness and vigor attacked enemy installations of material and troop concentrations, inflicting severe damage on them as well as bridges, airdromes, and communication facilities, the citation adds. Source: The Richmond News Leader (Richmond, Virginia), Friday, 02 March 1945, page 8.
Lieutenant Angell Dies in Jap Camp
Lieutenant Robert F. Angell, who had been previously reported as missing in action since November 29, 1943, died February 25, 1944, while a prisoner of the Japanese in Rangoon, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earle F. Angell, of 2900 Monument Ave., have been advised by the War Department.
Lieutenant Angell, a P-51 Mustang pilot, who was reported missing on a mission while escorting bombers over Rangoon, attended John Marshall High School, Jefferson High School, Roanoke and Columbia College, in Washington.
A member of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues, he attended officer candidate school, graduating as a second lieutenant February 3, 1941. He transferred to the Air Force in May 1942, and received his wings at Brooks Field, December 13, 1942.
He went overseas in July, 1943, where he was attached to the 530th Squadron of the 311th Fighter-Bomber Group, which served in the China-Burma-India Theater. He had been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial combat. Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia), Saturday, 08 September 1945, page 5.
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His remains were exhumed after the war by the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) and were place aboard a C-47B-1-DK Dakota (Serial Number 43-48308) on 17 May 1946.
Very early in the morning on 17 May 1946, it departed from Rangoon Airfield (Yangon) bound for Barrackpore Airfield near Calcutta. The crew of three including a pilot, check pilot and radio operator, were from the 1304th AAF Base Unit, India Wing, Air Transport Command. Also onboard were eight passengers, seven of which were *American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) Personnel. On board was the personal baggage of the 11 crew and passengers, two life rafts and 11 parachutes and an unknown number of life vests.
In addition, 12 cases containing the remains of 37 bodies (other sources state 38) from the Rangoon POW Prison, plus five unidentified sets of remains exhumed from an isolated location, (crew members of B-24 "Bugs Bunny" 42-73222).
The aircraft's intended route was a routine flight from Rangoon, Burma to Barrakapore/Calcutta, India. The weather conditions were poor for flying, with severe thunder storms, line squalls and heavy monsoon rains. The normal flight time for this route would have been about 4-1/2 hours, but due to the weather, the pilot estimated that it would take about 5-1/2 hours.
The last contact with the C-47 was over Akyab Island (Sittwe) and the pilot radioed in he was heading northeast over land en route to Barrackpore Airfield. The plane was never heard from again.
This missing aircraft was coded ATC 2-46. After being reported missing, extensive searches were flown to find this aircraft by both RAF and USAAF aircraft between May 18 - 28, totaling 275 hours flown. On 29 May, the search was officially abandoned.
The crew and passengers were officially declared dead the day of the mission and are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
*Passengers Lieutenant Donald Dutton and Lieutenant Henry Derbyshire were enroute to Calcutta to attend an American Graves Registration Service conference and had in their possession complete information of air-wrecks, Japanese executions and American isolated burials obtained after weeks of investigation in Rangoon, Siam, Malay Straits, Java and the Andaman Islands. The loss of these records, together with the loss of these experienced AGRS officers and inlisted men, was a huge blow to the Search and Recovery activities occuring in the CBI theater.
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On 05 November 2009, the crash site of C-47 #43-48308 was discovered by MIA recovery specialist Clayton Kuhles.
Latest update - Agartala, 08 September 2013: The US delegation which has been visiting Tripura since 05 September to inspect relics of a crashed American aircraft in the jungles of Dhumacherra in Dhalai district left the state on Saturday. Sources said, they carried DNA samples of bodies from all 11 coffins in a cemetery close to the crash site. These bodies are claimed to be mortal remains of the crew of a C-47-B carrier which crashed on its way from Rangoon to 'Calcutta' on 17 May 1946.
The aircraft was first discovered on 05 November 2009 by Clayton Kuhles of the 'Missing in Action', aided by 32 TSR personnel. The cemetery was stated to have housed 12 coffins, most of which were possibly stuffed with multiple bodies.
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