Earl, Robert W., 2nd Lt

Last Known Activity
Robert W. Earl was supposedly born in California in 1917. His parents were Claude E. and Mabel O. Earl. The US Censuses 1930 and 1940 reflect the family living in Pasadena.

Earl enlisted as an Aviation Cadet at Los Angeles, California on October 31, 1941. He completed the pilot training course, was commissioned, awarded wings, and moved to transitional training on multi-engined aircraft. Later, he was assigned to a training unit in the U.S. before deploying overseas.

He was assigned as co-pilot to the B-17 combat crew commanded by Captain Bruce. He flew 5 credited missions with this crew. On November 28, 1942, the crew was tasked to take part in a raid on facilities around Bizerte, Tunisia. En route to the target area, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fighters. It crashed into the Mediterranean Seas. There were no survivors, and no bodies were recovered.

Lt Earl is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing in the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia.

This loss, according to squadron records, was the first aircraft lost to enemy fighters by the 301st Bomb Group.


www.findagrave.com
www.ancestry.com
www.abmc.gov
www.301stbg.com/301st_bombardment_group.cfm
www.301stbg.com/missions_Macrs.cfm
US Census 1930
US Census 1940
NARA Enlistment Records

Comments/Citation
Lt Robert Earl was the assigned co-pilot on B-17F # 41-24363, named "Bad Penny," assigned to the 32nd Bomb Squadron.

Missing Air Crew Report covers this aircraft/crew loss. Mission loading lists show the crew as:

Cpt John B. Bruce  p
2 Lt Robert Earl  c-p
2 Lt Charles Tannehill nav
2 Lt Charles Knop  bomb
SSgt Henry P. Hughes, Jr.  eng/tt gun
Sgt  Leonard McGriff  r/o
SSgt Alpheus Backus  wg
Sgt  Samuel Scott  wg
SSgt Merle Gilger tail gun

Ranks and grades as of mission date.

Sgt Gilger's name is listed as "Merle" in loading list; however, all other records specify "Merril."

The only known photo of this crew was taken in England where King George VI congratulated the crew. Individual identifications are not available.

The aircraft's name "Bad Penny" came from the axiom "A Bad Penny Always Comes Back."