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Robert S. OLSON
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Pilot Class Book 43-GH, Foster Field, Texas. | |||||||
| NUMBER OF SERVICE | O-689889 | ||||||
| AGE | 21 yo | ||||||
| DATE OF BIRTH | 23 December 1923 | ||||||
| ETAT | MINNESOTA | ||||||
| FAMILY |
Married: Mary Ellen Parents: Robert Walter & Mabeth E OLSON Soeur: Helen Margaret | ||||||
| RANK | Second Lieutenant | ||||||
| FONCTION | Pilot | ||||||
| JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENT |  | ||||||
| DATE of ENLISTEMENT | |||||||
| SQUADRON | 107th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron | ||||||
| GROUP | 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group | ||||||
| ARMY | 9th US Air Force | ||||||
| DATE OF DEATH | 24 July 1944 |  | |||||
| STATUS | KIA | ||||||
| PLACE OF DEATH | Coutances | ||||||
| DATA PLAN |
P-51 Mustang - type F-6A - s/n 43-6158
Macr: 7472 Mission : Reconnaissance photo et visuelle - Lessay/Coutances/St-Lô Décollage terrain A-9D Le Molay Attaqué par 12 P-47 Thunderbolt et abattu - 16h00 | ||||||
| CEMETERY | BRITTANY AMERICAN CEMETERY of St James | ||||||
| GRAVE |
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| DECORATION |
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| STORY | |||||||
| Originally from Minnesota, Robert joined the Air Corps after the war began. Following his training, he was assigned to the 107th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, which he found in Louisiana at the De Ridder base where he began training on fighter aircraft. The unit depends on the 8th US Air Force when it arrived in Membury, England in September 1942 where it flies on Spitfire V, Douglas A20, Boston, Piper L4 or Tiger Moth for training. The Group joined the 9th US Air Force in May 1943. Robert became an officer and married Mary on September 3, 1943. The 107th is one of the oldest units in the US Air Force. |  | ||||||
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Lamberton Cemetery, Lamberton, Redwood County, MINNESOTA | |||||||
In November 1943, she moved to the Middle Walop (Hampshire) station where she received P-51A Mustang F-6A that were equipped with two cameras in addition to their basic weapons. From February 1944, it will increase reconnaissance operations (ground forces, enemy positions, etc.) over the French coast for Operation Overlord, more than 9000 photos. The «Dicing Missions» will allow the Headquarters to know the obstacles installed by the Germans on the coast as well as in the interior. She will receive the Presidential Unit Citation for all these operations. The squadron will be deployed in support of the first army in Normandy; it arrives on 28 June on the ALG A-2 airfield of Cricqueville-en-Bessin then on the ALG A-4 of Deux-Jumeaux before arriving on 5 July on the ALG A-9D of the Molay. On July 24, Robert and another pilot Lieutenant Doyle take off for a new photographic and visual reconnaissance mission on the region of Saint-Lô, Lessay and Coutances; at 16h00 while Robert is in position 1 and Lieutenant Doyle in number 2, They’re being attacked by P-47s. Lieutenant Doyle makes a break on the right, Robert certainly did not have time, radio contact is broken between the two Mustangs, Lieutenant Doyle returns to the area trying to regain contact but without radio return, he returns to the base alone. The pilots of these reconnaissance groups take enormous risks in order to bring back exceptional photographs and thus allow the Command to plan the attack plans. Low-altitude flights in hot areas of the front, search for targets invisible by the human eye are the daily life of these men and despite the present invasion bands, it happens that planes are shot down by artillery or allied DCA. That day Robert experienced this tragic fate by the allied attack of fighter planes. The action of these reconnaissance fighters played a decisive role in the advance, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of tanks, materials, troops, equipment, road and rail structures allowing the allies to break the front. | |||||||
| SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTO |
USAAF Class Book Project ABMC American Cemeteries -Abmc.gov - Francecrashes39-45.net - Findagrave.com - Findagrave.com - Frédéric LAVERNHE |
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| PROGRAMMER | Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud |