Monuments
B-17 (42-5792) 'The Mugger' Crash Memorial
Lts O'Connor and Peterson Memorial -303rd Bomber Group
Name:
Robert S. O'Connor
Rank:
First Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-661542
Unit:
358th Bomber Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group
Date of Death:
1943-07-04
State:
Wisconsin
Cemetery:
Normandy American Cemetery, France
Plot:
J
Row:
14
Grave:
34
Decoration:
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Comments:
1st Lt Robert S. O’Connor, pilot of the B-17 42-5792 “The Mugger”, took off from station 107 in Molesworth, Cambridgeshire, UK at 0930 on a bombing mission over the Gnome-Rhone-Le Mans factories. The plane was attacked by German fighters and hit by flak. With two engines out of commission including one on fire, O’Connor ordered the crew to bail out but stayed at his post so the plane wouldn’t crash into one of the many villages. His concern cost him his life. He crashed with the plane.