Robert B. Leventhal
Robert Blonder Leventhal was born 10-Nov 1921 in St. Louis Missouri. His father was Frank W. Leventhal (1892–1966) and his mother was Annette (Annie) Leah Blonder Leventhal (1894–1970). He had two sisters: Majorie and Audrey. The family lived at 6030 Cates Avenue in St. Louis. He attended Soldan High School. According to the 1938 Yearbook he belonged to the French Club, Tennis Club, Senior Picture Committee and Camera Club. After high school, he attended college as a freshman in 1940 at Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla Missouri after later was attending Washington University in St. Louis when he enlisted.
Robert enlisted 25-Feb 1942 in the Army Air Corps. He trained and served as a navigator. According to his enlisted records, he had completed one year of college. He served with the 388th Bomber Group, Heavy, 562nd Bomber Squadron of the 8th Air Force flying B-17’s the Flying Fortress. His service number was O-674216. The 388th Bomb Group was activated at Gowen Field on 24-Dec 1942. The group trained at Gowen Field, Idaho, Wendover Field, Utah and Sioux City AAF, South Dakota.
The group’s final training took place at Sioux City AAF from early May to June 1, 1943. The 388th Bomb Group consisted of four Squadrons: The 560, 561, 562, and 563rd. They were based in Knettishall, Suffolk, England.
The 8th Air Force Historical Society lists an engagement on 16-Sep 1943, as follows: “93 of the 148 B-17s, after bombing the German U-Boat pens at LaPallice, and Luftwaffe installations, destroying 22 German aircraft, headed back to England. On the return flight the formations had to break up and return independently due to inclement weather. Four B-17 aircraft were lost, with 44 crew members killed in action.”
Robert flew 16 missions. On his last mission on the Sondra kay, he was a fill in for their regular navigator who was ill. The ship was damaged by flak on the target. Poor weather, low on fuel, getting dark, the Sondra Kay crash landed on Upper Cilgee Farm, Llanure, two miles from Llandrindod Wells, Wales, after being diverted to RAF Shobdon, Herefordshire, England. The ship was salvaged for parts. All ten crewmembers including Robert Leventhal died in the crash.
In 1987, an amateur archaeologist in England while searching a WWII crash site found Leventhal’s dog tags. After much searching, he was able to return them to the family.
For the rest of his story, click on the pdf below.
