Robert Wendell Snell was born on March 12, 1918 in Hillsboro, Texas. He was the son of Thomas Jefferson Snell and Coreen Daniels Glasscock. He served in the 378th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group as a First Lieutenant during World War II. After being grounded by weather for two days, the group flew two missions on January 5, 1945. The 379th bombed through 10/10 overcast at the direction of the controller near Bunion. The 377th and 378th found better weather over their target and virtually destroyed the town of Wardin at the northeast corner of the Bastogne bulge. Lieutenant Robert W. Snell led Blue Flight of the 378th to attack three trucks. "He was right on the deck when he was hit by AA [anti-aircraft fire]," reported Lt. Milton Mannick. "Flames burst from the gas tanks. He then pulled up to 1,000 feet at a 30-degree angle, jettisoned the canopy and jumped, clearing the plane. His chute opened but failed to blossom. He landed in a forest of tall pine trees," Mannick reported. "I went down to look for him but couldn't see him." Snell was killed in the fall. He is now buried in the Cleburne Memorial Cemetery, Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, Thunderbolts Triumphant, The 362nd Fighter Group vs Germany's Wehrmacht