Robert Hamilton Sangster Jr

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-42270.jpeg UPL 42270 "Crew of the 360th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Ooold Soljer". England, 28 March 1943."

Rear L-R: Lt George V Stallings, 1Lt Keith O Bartlett, Lewis E Lyle, Lt Milton S Fonorow, 1Lt Samuel H Anderson, Capt Percy C Young.

Front L-R: S/Sgt Clayton S Balcombe, T/Sgt Gene K Smith, T/Sgt Frederick A Hartung, S/Sgt Tom McGiffin, S/Sgt Edward A Bradford, S/Sgt Robert H Sangster, T/Sgt Woodrow W Smith.

Object Number - UPL 42270 - "Crew of the 360th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, beside the Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" "Ooold Soljer". England, 28 March 1943." Rear L-R: Lt...

6-Mar-42 Assigned as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F #41-24559 [PU-C] "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. 16-Oct-42 Arrived at Molesworth, UK aboard "Ooold Soljer"



31-Mar-43 Killed on Mission (KOM) while serving as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F #41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS when the aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with B-17F #42-29573 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS. This occured less than an hour from takeoff in 10/10 cloud cover. The planes crashed at Mears Ashby and 303rd reports a memorial to the two crews is there. #41-24559 8KOM 1BO/WIA 1BO/RTD. #42-29573 7KIA 2BO/WIA 1BO/RTD



Participated in 14 Operations (2 were Aborted) See Biography events.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-791048
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24559) nicknamed "Old Soljer" of the 303rd Bomb Group. Passed as censored 25 Jan 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-17 "Old Soljer". 25 Jan 1943.' Printed caption attached: 'How The Boys Live And Work At Flying Fortress Station In England. Wide World Photo Shows:- Side view of Fortress. This one's been named "Old Soljer" by her crew, who have painted the name on the side of the fuselage, as shown here. WW/ALA. 26-1-43.' On reverse: Ministry of Information, As
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ooold Soljer
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24579) of the 365th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group prepares for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: '30/6/43.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Thumper
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Vienna, Dooly County, GA 11 September 1921

Enlisted

Fort Benning, GA 20 March 1941 Fort Benning, Georgia

Other

Assigned to Aircraft

Boise, ID, USA 6 March 1942 Assigned as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho.

Other

Mission #1, SGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 17 November 1942 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #2, SGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 18 November 1942 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #3, SGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Lille, France 6 December 1942 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the carriage and wagon works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #4, SGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24579, 303BG/360BS

Saint-Nazaire, France 3 January 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24579 "Thumper", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #5, SGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Lille, France 13 January 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the Lille Fives Locomotive Works at Lille, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #6, SGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Lorient, France 23 January 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Lorient, France. RTB OK.

Other

Promoted in Rank

25 January 1943 Promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Other

Mission #7, SSGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Wilhelmshaven, Germany 27 January 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #8, SSGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Hamm, Germany 2 February 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Hamm, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #9, SSGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - Aborted

Osnabrück, Germany 4 February 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the industrial areas of Osnabruck, Germany, but mechanical failures forced the pilot to abort the sortie. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #10, SSGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Rouen, France 12 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #11, SSGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Amiens, France 13 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Ameins, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #12, SSGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Wilhelmshaven, Germany 22 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the naval facilities and U-Boat pens at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #13, SSGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS

Rouen, France 28 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK.

Other

Mission #14, SSGT Robert H. Sangster, W/B-17F 41-24559, 303BG/360BS - KOM

Rotterdam, Netherlands 31 March 1943 Served as Ball Turret Gunner on B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. The aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with anothre B-17 of 358BS during assemply. He was killed in the crash. KOM

Other

Arrived in UK

Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK 16 October 2042 Arrived at Molesworth, UK as Ball Turret Gunner aboard B-17F 41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG/360BS.

Buried

Buried

Andersonville National Cemetery,Andersonville National Historic Site, Macon County, GA Remains repatriated to Georgia. Andersonville National Cemetery Andersonville National Historic Site, Macon County, Georgia

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a connection to Keith O. Bartlett.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Burial event per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #14 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #13 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #12 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 22-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/025.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Mission #11 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Mission Report of 1\3-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/023.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Added Promoted in Rank event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #10 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Hisotiran, Mission Report of 12-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/022.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 6-Mar-2016. Made connections to Missions of 12-Mar-43, 13-Mar-43, 22-Mar-43, 28-Mar-43 and 31-Mar-43 per 303BG webiste, Gary Monucr, Historian, Mission Reports of dates stated: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #9 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Hisotiran, Mission Report of 4-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/014.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #8 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Hisotiran, Mission Report of 2-Feb-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/013.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Added Mission #7 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Hisotiran, Mission Report of 27-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/012.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 26-Feb-2016. Made connections to Missions of 27-Jan-43, 2-Feb-43 and 4-Feb-43 per 303BG records: http://www.303rdbg.com/

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #6 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Hisotiran, Mission Report of 23-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/011.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #5 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Hisotiran, Mission Report of 13-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/010.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #4 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Hisotiran, Mission Report of 3-Jan-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/009.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #3 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Hisotiran, Mission Report of 6-Dec-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/005.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Hisotiran, Mission Report of 18-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/002.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303bG website, Gary Moncur, Hisotiran, Mission Report of 17-Nov-42: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/001.pdf

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Arrived in UK event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Lewis E. Lyle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added Assigned to Aircraft event per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Lewis E. Lyle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Feb-2016. Added initial asssignment, arrival in UK, and edtied mid-air collision event in Summary Biography; made connections to Place, Aircraft (through 23-Jan-43), Missions (through 23-Jan-43) per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, Lewis E. Lyle crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/c-360-lyle.html

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit history, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 94, 303rd web site, ABMC web site

Robert Hamilton Sangster: Gallery (1 items)