John Robert Halbert

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-23626.jpeg UPL 23626 Arthur Shirk's Crew. Back row: (L-R) F/O Richard Hawley-Bombardier, F/O Arthur Shirk-Pilot, F/O: John R. (Bob) Halbert-Co-pilot, F/O Michael O. Ryan-Navigator. Front row: (L-R) Sgt. Fred Windeler-Engineer, Sgt. Robert (Bob) Chism-Radio, Sgt. Milton Ervin-Tail Gunner, Sgt. John T. Coxey-Waist Gunner, Sgt. Charles (Dink) Wagner-Waist Gunner. Photo was taken in February 1945.

398th Bomb Group Collection via Nuthampstead Airfield Museum.

Object Number - UPL 23626 - Arthur Shirk's Crew. Back row: (L-R) F/O Richard Hawley-Bombardier, F/O Arthur Shirk-Pilot, F/O: John R. (Bob) Halbert-Co-pilot, F/O Michael O....

Assigned to 602BS, 398BG, 8AF USAAF. 2 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Pilsen in B-17 42-97266 25-Apr-45; hit by flak over target area. Trapped in spinning A/C. Killed in Action (KIA), MACR 14224.



Awards: PH.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.

398th Bomb Group

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

People

Allan Harvey Ferguson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-778761
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Arthur C Shirk

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-97266

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Godfathers inc.
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Pineville, Kentucky, USA 30 January 1924 Son of Anastasia [Harmon] Halbert.

Enlisted

Pineville, KY 29 May 1943 Pineville, Kentucky

Died

Pilsen, Czech 25 April 1945 Failed to Return (FTR) Pilsen in B-17 42-97266 25-Apr-45; hit by flak over target area. Trapped in spinning A/C. KIA MACR 14224

Based

Killed in Action (KIA)

Nuthampstead 25 April 1945 Assigned to 602BS, 398BG, 8AF USAAF.

Buried

Saint Pius X Cemetery Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA Saint Pius X Cemetery Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130462458/john-robert-halbert

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/29038832
https://www.fold3.com/image/310763524
https://www.fold3.com/image/319647142
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130462458/john-robert-halbert

Date
Contributoremma simpson
Changes
Sources

398th Bomb Group Collection via Nuthampstead Airfield Museum.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 14224 / MACR 14224, mention in Hell from Heaven: Memoirs of a WW II B-17 Bombardier by Leonard Streitfeld pp.185 & 193 picture p. 187 and 398th BG web site. / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

John Robert Halbert: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 23626 - Arthur Shirk's Crew. Back row: (L-R) F/O Richard...