Robert James Gibbs

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-46164.jpeg UPL 46164 Morris F. Swavel Crew
390th BG - 568th BS - 8th AF
Standing Left to Right: Frank C. Bobrowicz (RO), William L. Walker (FE), Alec Gwazdosky (WG), Robert J. Gibbs (WG), James T. O'Brien (TG), Daniel J. Miller (BTG)
Kneeling Left to Right: Morris F. Swavel (P), Wilmer R. Goldfinger (CP), George Pietrucha (N), John Phelan (B)

Object Number - UPL 46164 - Morris F. Swavel Crew 390th BG - 568th BS - 8th AF Standing Left to Right: Frank C. Bobrowicz (RO), William L. Walker (FE), Alec Gwazdosky (WG),...

Robert Gibbs was Right Waist gunner on board B-17 #42-39819, hit by Flak on return from the 13 April 1944 mission to Augsburg, Germany. Ditched in the Channel/North Sea, about 18km West of the entrance to the port of Ostend, Belgium. Killed In Action (KIA). On 8 May 1944, his body was found in Ostend, Belgium and he was buried the next day at the English Military Cemetery in Koksijde. His remains were later transferred to the Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupré, Belgium.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 390th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32686782
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-693672
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6149248
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-807918
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32829895
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Hells Bells
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Tis A Mystery
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rovin’ romona ii/big friend
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Anoxia Queen
  • Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 13 April 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Waterville, Maine, USA 14 May 1924

Enlisted

Portland, ME 4 December 1942

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

English Channel, approx. 12 miles off the coast of Ostend, Belgium 13 April 1944 in the crash of B-17 #42-39819 in the Channel, about 15km West of the entrance to the port of Ostend, Belgium

Other

Body Recovered

Ostend, Belgium 8 May 1944 his body floated ashore in Ostend, Belgium

Buried

Koksijde, Belgium 9 May 1944 at the English Military Cemetery in Koksijde, Belgium
Waterville, ME Kennebec County, Maine

Buried

Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium Plot D Row 3 Grave 2

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Updated Middle Name & a Born event per info in the Fields of Honor Database.
SOURCE: https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemete…

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Award - ABMC website

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 3947
NARA WWII Enlistment records
AV 934/44 file ("Amerikaner Vorgaenge") at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6922023
ABMC website

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Corrected KIA date in Bio

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 3947

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3947 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Robert James Gibbs: Gallery (3 items)