Robert Joe Rupe was born in 1924. He was the son of James William Rupe and Bonnie V. Koecher Rupe. He served in the 560th Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and tail gunner of #42-32004 "Pride o the Yanks" aircraft during World War II. A member of the Patrick crew, he was killed when their plane crashed on June 20, 1944. On the last flight over Magdaburg, due to flak, they lost number 1 and 2 engines over the target. While attempting to return to England, the number 3 engine developed an oil leak and it had to be feathered. With only 1 engine running, they had to ditch the North Sea.

The aircraft was hit by flak over the target. One engine was feathed. The A/C dropped out of the formation and followed along behind and below until it disappeared from view in the vicinity of the East Frisian Islands at 1025 hours. No chutes were seen. SSgt Rupe is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. He also has a cenotaph located in Crescent Hill Cemetery, Adrian, Bates County, Missouri. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

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