Robert J. Cromer was born in 1919 in Ohio. He resided in Miami County, Ohio prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on May 10, 1941, prior to the war, at Fort Thomas, Newport, Kentucky. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being Single, without dependents. Robert served as a Staff Sergeant and Asst. Radio Operator / Gunner on B-24J #42-100249, 425th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #42-100249 took off from Kunming, China on a sea sweep combat mission. They never were heard or seen again and are believed to have crashed at sea. However it was noted as a battle casuality and mentioned that they could have been victims of anti-aircraft fire. The entire crew of 11 were lost. He was declared "Missing in Action" on May 20, 1944 and is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

He was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov