LaCrosse Tribune; September 24, 1948; Page 9
S.G. Airman's Body Returned
Killed In Action Over Germany
Enlisted In August
Soldiers Grove, Wis. - (Special)- Word has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Banta, Soldiers Grove, that the body of their son, Lieut. Robert Banta, will arrive here, Friday.
Funeral services for Lieut. Banta will be held Saturday at the home at 2 pm, the Rev. J.N. Lunde officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Hill cemetery in Soldiers Grove, the American Legion conducting military rites at the grave site.
Robert Banta was born near Soldiers Grove, Feb. 4, 1921. He was educated in Soldiers Grove schools, graduating from the high school in 1939. Later he attended the Institute of Technology at Platteville, Wis.
Enlisted in August
He enlisted in the army air force Aug. 25, 1942. His training included periods at San Antonio, Tex., Tulsa, Okla, and Laredo, Tex. On Jan. 15, 1944, he graduated from the Midland bombardier school and was commissioned a second lieutenant.
Following his 15-day leave, Banta went to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was assigned to a B-17 bomber squadron and a little later received final training at Sioux City, la., before being sent overseas. He landed in England June 5, 1944, and began flying missions over occupied Europe.
Awarded the air medal July 27, 1944, Lieut. Banta later received two oak leaf clusters and a presidential citation. He was promoted to group leader Aug. 3. Following a mission over Germany, Sept. 12, 1944, he was reported missing. A short time later, his parents received word through the Red Cross that he had been killed and was buried in Germany. Word of his promotion to first lieutenant came through just two days later.
Buried In Germany
He was buried at Massow, Germany, by the Germans, and following the American occupation was moved to an American military cemetery at Metz, France. It was from here that his body was returned to America.
He is survived by 10 sisters, Mrs. Ruth Adams and Mrs. Jerry Ivelis, Milwaukee, Mrs. Earl Nelson, Two Harbors, Minn., Mrs. Marlin Olson, Barbara, Nancy and June, all of Soldiers Grove, Mrs. Carl Olson, La Farge, Mrs. Harlis Schricker, at the Banta home, and Elaine, Ann Harbor, Mich.; three brothers, Fred, Platteville, Wis., William, Camp LeJeune, N.C. and Gary at home; and a grandfather, Tom Hestetune.
Friends may call at the home Friday afternoon and evening.