Robert Peters was born on September 13, 1923 and was from Columbus, Ohio.

First Lieutenants Robert O. Peters and Joseph Vigna were assigned to the 358th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group , “The Steeple Morden Strafers” of the 8th US Air Force. 1st Lieutenant Peters was flying on his 50th mission. On September 18, 1944, Peters flying P-51 (44-13675) and Vigna flying P-51 (42-103317) flying from Steeple Morden (AAF Station F- 122) were two of 64 fighters from the 355th FG to support 110 B-17 dropping supplies to Polish Resistance Fighters fighting the enemy during the Warsaw Uprising. The bombers and fighters were flying on an Operation Frantic (Frantic VII) where bombers would shuttle between England, the Soviet Union and Italy. Planes were scheduled to land in the Soviet Union during this last Operation Frantic mission. While flying over Warsaw, the formation was attached by BF-109 fighters and one B-17 and the P-51s of Peters and Vigna were shot down. Vigna Peters were downed near the village of Kątne and Stara Wrona in the Nasielsk vicinity. Both were buried locally and their bodies repatriated to the US in 1948 (Reference Missing Aircraft Reports {MACR} 9238 & 9239).
A memorial members Vigna and Peters near their crash site in Nasielsk, Poland

DSC Citation Synopsis The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Robert Osburn Peters (ASN: 0-442108), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 358th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 20 July 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date First Lieutenant Peters shot down three enemy aircraft in a single engagement. First Lieutenant Peters' unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.