The current guardian of this Remembrance Page is Steve Booth (SBTS Writer)-Historian.
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This Remembrance Profile was originally created by CMSgt Don Skinner - Deceased
Casualty Info
Home Town Bedford
Last Address 353rd Bomb Squadron St. Donat, Algeria
Casualty Date Apr 13, 1943
Cause MIA-Finding of Death
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Italy
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial - Carthage, Tunisia
According to his enlistment document, Robert F. Nance was born in 1914 in Virginia. His parents were Thadius Haywood and Mary L. Nance. The US Census 1930 has the family residing in Bedford, Virginia.
Nance enlisted as a private on January 15, 1942. His enlistment papers state he had completed 4 years of high school, was single, and was employed as a photographer.
It is not known when he was assigned to the 301st Bomb Group, nor how many missions he flew. It is also not known if he was a regular member of the Thomas crew or flew as assigned. The award of the Air Medal, under the criteria at the time would indicate between 5 and 9 missions.
On April 13, 1943, the aircraft was part of a bombing raid on the Castel-Veterano Airdrome in Sicily. There is no record of what happened during the mission. The MACR merely states "Failed to return."
Sgt Robert F. Nance was acting as photographer on B-17F # 41-24394, named "Hockamolocko Jock VI BB," assigned to the 353rd Bomb Squadron. There is no explanation of what the name means, or why it was given to the aircraft.
Missing Air Crew Report 16302 was issued, but contains only aircraft identification, crew members on board, and the notation "Failed to return."
Mission loading lists confirm crew was:
1 Lt Jerry E. Thomas p
1 Lt Duke D. Cummings c-p
1 Lt Harry A. Wann, Jr. nav
1 Lt William E. Loewecke bomb
TSgt Julius J. Jacobs eng/tt gun
TSgt Joel B. Busby r/o
SSgt Ray O. Weeks btg
SSgt James Agee wg
Sgt Robert F. Nance photo
SSgt Robert J. Carignan tail gun
Sgt. Robert F. Nance is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing in the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Carthage, Tunisia.
Standing Up For Truth Honors All Who Gave All
References:
Ancertry.com
National Archives
Newspapers.com
U.S. Censes records
https://wikipedia.org/
American Battle Monuments Commission
B-17 Flying Fortress
HonorStates.org
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Together We Served. Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story. We welcome volunteers to help write these stories.
Stories Behind The Stars, Contributing Historian: Steve Booth,
If you have any details, photos or corrections for this story, please email me by clicking below.
Email: [email protected]
Steve Booth (SBTS Writer)-Historian.
