George Thomas Roby was born on January 6, 1917, in West Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana. He was the son of Raymond John Roby and Gertrude Bertha Liggett Roby. He served in the 602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, as a Technical Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner of B-17 #44-6519 during World War II.

On October 28, 1944, B-17G 44-6519 participated in a bombing mission targeting Münster, Germany. Shortly after releasing its bombs at approximately 14:30, the aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft flak. Witnesses reported that the aircraft entered a slight dive, and moments later, the tail section exploded near the waist door or slightly behind. The bomber crashed near Nienberge, northwest of Münster. Tragically, eight of the nine crew members were killed in action, and only one survived and was captured by German forces, becoming a prisoner of war.

TSgt Robby was reported Missing in Action and officially declared dead on October 28, 1944. His name is memorialized in the Tablets of the Missing in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands. George T. Toby's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 6, in the top right wing (section B).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org