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name
PHILLIPS, Robert Lyle - Date of
birth
18 October 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Ashland County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
King County, Washington
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
T-125025 -
Rank
Flight Officer -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
68th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
18 October 1944 - Place of
death
2 km from Petegem aan de Leie, Deinze, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 12 | 22 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Lyle H. Phillips (father)
Adella M. Phillips (mother)
William H. Phillips (brother)
Walter J. Phillips (brother)
Dorothy A. Phillips (sister)
Howard J. Phillips (brother)
Theodora J. (Vogel) Phillips (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-50381 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Leverkusen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Bayer Chemical Industry
MACR: 10140
More information
F/O Robert L. Phillips joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army as a private in Seattle, Washington, on 10 June 1941.There were no eyewitnesses from the Group who saw the aircraft go down. Later it was discovered that the plane collided with aircraft 41-28944 over Deinze during an electrical storm. Both planes lost a wing. One plane crashed at Molenhoek (Petegem) and the other crashed at Prijkels (at the border of Petegem and Nazareth).
The entire crew of ten was killed and initially buried at the American Military Cemetery at Flanders Fields in Waregem, Belgium. On 15 May 1945, the remains were transported to Henri-Chapelle and later all but F/O Phillips returned to the U.S.A.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Carla Mans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / 1930 Census / Washington, Marriage Records, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Dayle Difani