Robert A. Hicks was born in Beaumont, Texas. He served in the 566th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot of B-24 #44-10579 nicknamed ''Pugnacious Princess Pat” during World War II.

On November 26, 1944, the “Pugnacious Princess Pat”, departed from Hethel Airfield in England as part of a large Allied bombing mission targeting rail yards near Hannover and the Deurag-Nerag synthetic oil refinery at Misburg. Around midday, as the formation approached the target, German anti-aircraft fire from Kirchhorst struck the bomber, shearing away part of its tail and right wing. The aircraft went down in a clearing near Altwarmbüchen, killing six of the ten crew members, while the remaining four parachuted to safety but were captured.

1Lt Hicks was taken as a prisoner of war and was held in Germany. Currently, we don't have details about his death and burial location.

Source of information: de.wikipedia.org, www.americanairmuseum.com