2nd Lt. Austin Roberts
Based on the two documents below it seems that Private Austin Roberts was recommended for flight training by his superior officer. He was welcomed for pilot training nearly a year later.
This is Austin Robert’s crew. From left to right:
Milton A Courtright pilot, Austin A Roberts copilot, Rodney E Lewman bombardier/navigator , Kohn F Collins engineer, Earnest J Mandeville radio/gunner, and Lou Bollman tail gunner.
Official record of Ma’s Blasted Event 42-107698 Y5-R;
Delivered from the Martin Omaha plant. Next listed at Omaha, Nebraska (ATC) on 17/2/44, and, Scott Field, Illinois (ATC) on 20/2/44. Then went to the 3rd AF staging area at Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia (from 21/2/44), and then to Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida (from 1/3/44), from where the aircraft was flown overseas to the UK via the Southern Ferry Route (Listed as Caribbean Wing), departing the USA on 2/3/44 destined for the 9th AF. Served with the 344th BG / 495th BS. The nose art depicts a Stork carrying a sling & bomb. Shot down by flak over the target on the 24/2/45 mission to Viersen, Germany. The aircraft flown by 1st Lt. Humphrey Marshall Mallory took a direct hit, severing the right wing, flipping the aircraft over on its back, and spinning down to the ground. All the crew were killed. The final entry on the aircraft record card lists. MACR 12612
D-Day Mission
Listen to an archive recording of Courtright (Roberts’ pilot) recalling D-Day.
Courtright, Roberts and crew flew the first mission to Utah beach on D-Day. Their position in the formation was 1-1-6. They flew in Ma’s Blasted Event 42-107698 Y5-R
The Load List indicates the crew as follows; Courtright pilot, Roberts co-pilot, True bombardier, Mandeville radio/gunner, Collins engineer/gunner, Bollman tail-gunner. They took-off at 3:55 and landed at 7:45. Their bombs were released on target. They flew in 42-107698 Ma’s Blasted Event Y5-R.
According to the form above, the crew flew in Y5-R, taking off at 4:15 and landing at 7:40. they assumed position 1-1-6 in the formation. They dropped 16 – 250lb general purpose bombs on their primary target at 6:10 fro 6,500 ft of altitude. The cloud ceiling was 7000 ft with a visibility of 4-6 miles. They faced weak and inaccurate flak and no enemy aircraft. none of the crew were injured and the aircraft was undamaged. The tail-gunner Bollman witnessed a friendly aircraft go down. He claimed it might have been a direct hit and saw a ball of fire going down. No parachutes were seen. Warships were seen near the Island of Aldermay. They also observed fighters near Lessay. Courtright complained of careless clearing of guns over the English Channel with “tracers flying around indiscriminately.”
52 planes participated; bombed at 3200 to 6500 ft. altitude. Encountered mod. – acc. LFF all along coast in target area, and in vicinity of Isigny. Wk. – Inacc, HFF in vicinity of Isigny. One ship destroyed by light flak over landfall. Right engine and bombay caught fire; 3 crew members bailed out, and ship exploded in air. All flak damage from light flak fire. Third box was lowest altitude. One ship landing away from base has suffered damage but category unknown.
June 12, 1944 Mission to Railroad Bridge Mercy, France
Courtright, Roberts and crew flew to a railroad bridge in Mercy, France. Their position in the formation was 1-1-3. They flew in Ma’s Blasted Event 42-107698 Y5-R
The Load List indicates the crew as follows; Courtright pilot, Roberts co-pilot, Armstrong bombardier, Mandeville radio/gunner, Collins engineer/gunner, Bollman tail-gunner. They took-off at 5:10 and landed at 8:10. Their bombs were released on target. They flew in 42-107698 Ma’s Blasted Event Y5-R
According to the form above, the crew flew in Y5-R. They assumed position 1-1-3 in the formation. They dropped 8 – 500lb general purpose bombs on their primary target.
June 29, 1944 Mission to a Bridge in Oissel, France
Courtright, Roberts and crew flew to a bridge in Oissel, France. Their position in the formation was 1-1-3. They flew in Ma’s Blasted Event 42-107698 Y5-R
The Load List indicates the crew as follows; Courtright pilot, Roberts co-pilot, Mandeville radio/gunner, Collins engineer/gunner, Bollman tail-gunner. They took-off at 7:25pm and landed at 10:45pm. Their bombs were released over the English Channel. They flew in 42-107698 Ma’s Blasted Event Y5-R in position 1-1-3.
Mission to Oissel Bridge. “36 aircraft paticipated; bombing was by flights. Reeived moderate to inaccurate HFF and inaccurate flak at Quiberville, and inaccurate HFF and LF from just after turn on to I.P. until about 1 minute after target. Flights were in and just under the base of the clouds, and all fire believed to have been P.C. seen. All planes dropped window on target (radar jamming tinsel), but effectiveness doubtful.”
21 planes received Cat. A damage and to received Cat. B damage.
Flew in position 1-1-3. Flew over target at 2100 feet but did not drop. (Another plane in the flight said they were out of formation). The carried 2- 2000lb bombs that were disposed of over the English Channel. Sone of the flak was intense and accurate. Co-Pilot Roberts, S/Sgt Mandeville -Radio-Gun, and S/Sgt. Bollman -Gunner were slightly wounded by Flak. Courtright described damage to the airplane (illegible). Other observations are illegible as well.
2nd Lt. Austin Roberts flew a complete tour of 65 bombing missions over enemy territory during WWII.
https://www.odmp.org/officer/11344-officer-austin-a-roberts
Austin A. Roberts
Officer Austin Roberts and Officer Ocie Gray were killed when the Cessna 180 piloted by Officer Roberts crashed just off State Route 104 about 23 miles east of Las Vegas.
The officers were dropping hay to starving antelope that were stuck in deep snow in San Miguel County.
Officer Roberts was a U.S. Air Force veteran who had piloted 65 bombing missions during WWII. He had served with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish for 11 years. He was survived by his wife and three daughters.
