Son of Mrs. Emma S. Baker who resided in Burlington, New Jersey.

Robert served as a Second Lieutenant & Co-Pilot on B-24J #44-40571, 371st Bomber Squadron, 307th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Burlington County, New Jersey prior to the war.

B-24J #44-40571 took off from Mokerang Airfield, Los Negros Island, Papua New Guinea on a combat mission over Yap Island. While over the target they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the sea. Some of the crew were able to parachute out before the crash.

Robert was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war.

He was awarded the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.

Service # O-760717

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished from B-24J #44-40571:

Anthony, Don A ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, PA
Baker, Robert D ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NJ
Carlson, Donald E ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, NE
Cuddy, James H ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MO
Echols, Norman C ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, IA
Galton, William C ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NJ
Gilbert, Hilary, Jr ~ Sgt, Photographer, VA ~ POW*
Hartman, Henry J ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, NY
Mayo, Ernest R ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, NC
Mooney, Reynold B ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, PA ~ POW*
O'Brien, Richard J ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, PA

* ~ Sgt. Gilbert and S/Sgt. Mooney were, after the war, found as being POW's of the Japanese Army having parachuted out of B-24J #44-40571. Their actual date of passing is unknown as it was not recorded by the Japanese.

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Son of Mrs. Emma S. Baker who resided in Burlington, New Jersey.

Robert served as a Second Lieutenant & Co-Pilot on B-24J #44-40571, 371st Bomber Squadron, 307th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Burlington County, New Jersey prior to the war.

B-24J #44-40571 took off from Mokerang Airfield, Los Negros Island, Papua New Guinea on a combat mission over Yap Island. While over the target they were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the sea. Some of the crew were able to parachute out before the crash.

Robert was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war.

He was awarded the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.

Service # O-760717

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished from B-24J #44-40571:

Anthony, Don A ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, PA
Baker, Robert D ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NJ
Carlson, Donald E ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, NE
Cuddy, James H ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MO
Echols, Norman C ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, IA
Galton, William C ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NJ
Gilbert, Hilary, Jr ~ Sgt, Photographer, VA ~ POW*
Hartman, Henry J ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, NY
Mayo, Ernest R ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, NC
Mooney, Reynold B ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, PA ~ POW*
O'Brien, Richard J ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, PA

* ~ Sgt. Gilbert and S/Sgt. Mooney were, after the war, found as being POW's of the Japanese Army having parachuted out of B-24J #44-40571. Their actual date of passing is unknown as it was not recorded by the Japanese.

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~