Robert J. GONNERING

 

Staff Sergeant US ARMY AIR FORCES

Service: # 36834645

381th Bomber Group,752th Bomber Squadron,   Heavy

Entered service: September 1943

Hometown:  Green Bay, Wisconsin

Born: 30-03-1925 Greenleaf, Wisconsin 

Died: 21-11-2017 Green Bay

Buried at: It was Bob's wish to be cremated and have his ashes released into a body of water.

Missions: 35

Medals:

Text from obituary:

 

Bob attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and Wrightstown High School, graduating in May 1943.

Wanting to serve his country in the military during World War II, Bob enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp in September 1943.

Upon completion of gunnery training in Nevada, he was assigned to the 8th Army Air Force’s 381st Bombardment Group’s 533rd Bomb Squadron.

Bob was stationed at the Ridgewell, Essex Air Field in England.

He completed thirty-five bombing missions in the B-17 Flying Fortress as the top turret gunner and flight engineer.

He and his squadron survived a crash landing in Diest, Belgium during a bombing mission to Merseburg, Germany.

Bob participated in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe battles and campaigns.

His 381st Group earned two Distinguished Unit Citations.

In October 1945 he was discharged from the US Army, having attained the rank of Staff Sergeant.