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Personal info

Full name
BEEGLE, Robert Roy "Bob"
Date of birth
22 October 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Bedford, Bedford County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33102012
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Engineer/Gunner
Unit
555th Bombardment Squadron,
386th Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
18 November 1944
Place of death
Near Morbach, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 36 17

Immediate family

Members
Percy D. Beegle (father)
Nellie D. (Reighard) Beegle (mother)
Thomas L. Beegle (brother)
Russell W. Beegle (brother)
Goldie Beegle (sister)
Ralph R. Beegle (brother)
Percy Beegle (brother)
Catharine Beegle (sister)
Mary L. Beegle (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
41-31613
Data
Type: B-26B
Nickname: Son of Satan
Destination: Saint Wendel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of storage dumps
MACR: 10466

More information

S/Sgt Beegle enlisted on 14 October 1941 at Bedford, Pennsylvania. He was on his 53rd bombing mission when shot down. He graduated at Bedford High School.

I saw flak coming up and aircraft 613 received a direct hit in the right engine which tore part of the wing away but left the engine intact. The plane started to spin out of formation almost at once and after losing approximately 5,000 feet, I saw two persons leave the ship. Later I saw two chutes open, so I feel sure two persons got out safely. I did not see the plane anymore, but my radioman reported that it crashed and exploded. Five crewmembers were KIA and one was taken POW.

Source of information: Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File, www.newspaperarchive.com - Bedford gazette

Photo source: Astrid van Erp, www.newspaperarchive.com - Bedford gazette