Harry A. Robey Crew

HARRY A. ROBEY CREW - 427th BS
B-17F #41-24619 S-for-Sugar (427BS) GN-S
(original crew assigned 427BS: 10 July 1942 - photo: 12 Oct 1942)
(Flew from USA to England Oct 1942 in B-17F #42-2966 (no name) (427BS) GN-V)

(Back L-R) 1Lt Harry A. Robey, Jr (P)(KIA), 2Lt Benjamin H. Burma (CP),
2Lt Charles R. Grice (N)(Evd/POW), 2Lt Roy R. Moser (B)(KIA)

(Front - not in order) T/Sgt Francis Sulcofski (E)(Evd/POW),
S/Sgt Sebastian L. Vogel (R)(Evd)(2nd from left); Sgt Donald H. Rutt (RWG)(KIA),
Pvt Edward T. Levering (BTG), Sgt Morel D. Bradley (TG)(KIA)

Crew Notes:

Passenger on October 42 flight from USA to England was Major George L. Robinson (not in photo) who became 303rd BG(H) Operations Officer (03 Feb 42) and Deputy Group Commander (13 Feb 43) and Commanding Officer 306th BG(H) (20 June 43 - 16 Sept 44)

Sgt Morel D. Bradley (TG)(KIA) and Sgt Donald R. Rutt (RWG)(KIA) B-17 blew up in mid-air over St. Nazaire, France on 03 Jan 43 mission #09 to St. Nazaire, France, William H. Goetz, Pilot

KIA/POW/EVD - 23 Jan 1943 mission #11 to Lorient, France in B-17F #41-24584 Susfu (427BS) GN-Q. Shot down by enemy fighters after formation broke up when another Group flew above the 303rd on the bomb run. (2 KIA, 2 Evd, 6 POW).

Substitute crewmen on mission were: 2Lt Mark L. McDermott (CP)(Evd), Sgt Wilbur F. Hummel (BTG)(Evd/POW), Sgt Val R. Hannon (LWG)(Evd/POW) and Sgt Thomas H. Morrison (RWG)(POW). 2Lt Benjamin H. Burma (CP) was grounded due to a throat infection.

Pilot 1Lt Harry A. Robey (KIA) was killed by enemy machine gun fire while parachuting to earth. 2Lt Mark L. McDermott (CP) and S/Sgt Sebastian L. Vogel (R) evaded capture and returned to England. See Vogel's evasion story.

[photo from the 303rdBGA Archives]
[Researched by 303rdBGA Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]