Robert S O'Connor

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

1st Lieutenant Robert S. O’Connor was born October 16, 1918. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur O’Connor. His hometown was Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He was pilot of 42-5360 "The Old faithful" on the mission of 11 June 1943.

On July 4, 1943, he was the Pilot of “The Mugger,” B-17 tail #42-5792, of the 303rd Bomb Group, 427th Bomb Squadron, when it was shot down by fighters over Laval, France on 4 July 1943. With one engine on fire, the plane crashed outside Malicorne-sur-Sarthe, France, where a monument was erected to Robert O'connor and Bombardier Richard Peterson who were killed.

Robert S. O'connor is buried at the US Military Cemetery at St. Laurent, France. Awards : Air Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Connections

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Units served with

Official emblem of the 303rd Bomb Group approved 7 November 1942.

303rd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Sergeant Fred Dioquardo of the 303rd Bomb Group stokes the stove inside a hut. Image stamped on reverse: ''Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 28 Jan 1943.' [stamp], '245666.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Stoking the stove in an American Army Air Force hut somewhere in England. Sergeant Fred Dioquardo, of Bayport, Long Island, asked the photographer to send this message back to his parents and fiance Miss H Sherwood , Maple Ave, Long Island: "I will be home when I

Fred John Dioquardo

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 7071292
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Aircraft

42-5360

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Old Faithful : War Bride
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

42-5792

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Mugger
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Milwaukee, WI, USA 16 October 1918 1st Lieutenant Robert S. O’Connor was born October 16, 1918. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur O’Connor. His hometown was Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Died

4 July 1943 On July 4, 1943, he was the Pilot of “The Mugger,” B-17 tail #42-5792, of the 303rd Bomb Group, 427th Bomb Squadron, when it went down over Laval, France.

Buried

He is buried at the US Military Cemetery at St. Laurent, France.

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Freeman "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story"

Date
ContributorWW2 Researcher Bill Beigel
Changes
Sources

IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop & Hey pp. 175-6, ABMC,

http://303rdbg.com/rost-nopq.html#N