Ahern Robert William, Jr.

Name:

Robert William, Jr. Ahern

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-746008

Unit:

55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group

Date of Death:

1944-04-23

State:

Ohio

Cemetery:

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France

Plot:

B

Row:

23

Grave:

33

Decoration:

Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

Robert William Ahern Jr. was born on April 11, 1921, in Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota. He was the son of Robert William Ahern and Ruth Mary Prindiville Ahern.

1Lt Ahern served as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces with the 55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group during World War II. His P-38 aircraft was shot down over France on April 23, 1944, during a mission in the European Theater. Although his remains were recovered, he ultimately died from injuries sustained during the crash. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart. 1Lt Ahern is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com