Robert Campbell Simmons (1920 - 1944)

Born 9 Jul 1920 in Massachusetts, United States

Died 27 Sep 1944 at age 24 in Nailstone, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

2nd Lt Robert Simmons Died in an airplane crash on a training flight in England during World War II.

Robert was born in 1920. Robert entered the service from Massachusetts. Lt. Simmons served as a Bombardier with the 849th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group,Heavy. He was awarded the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. He was stationed in England at the time of his death in an airplane crash in September 1944.

"Heavenly Body" Crash

75th Anniversary of Crash: This video has been produced for the 75th Anniversary Commemoration Event remembering the tragic crash of the 490th Bomb Group B-17G Flying Fortress "Heavenly Body" on the 27th September 1944 in Nailstone Parish.

Below information retrieved 4 April 2020 from Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 43-37776, "Heavenly Body" - Nailstone, Leicestershire.

27 September 1944 - A Boeing B17G Flying Fortress of the 490th Bomb Group, 8th American Army Air Force, on a night navigation training flight, from Eye, in Suffolk, crashed at Nailstone, Leicestershire.

The aircraft, piloted by 1st Lt Michael H Primus, was completely destroyed, resulting in a loss of life of the crew of 9, plus 3 members of a mobile training unit.

A memorial to these men stands in the Memorial Garden in Nailstone.

The crash was apparently seen by three men cycling home from Nailstone Pit along Grange Lane. They saw the aeroplane in descend steeply, in flames, into a field on the other side of the main road to the village. The cause of the problem is not known.

Crash site: N 52° 39.665 W 001° 23.010

Text of Memorial at Nailstone:

In memory of our fallen comrades 490th bomb group flight crew on the B17 Flying Fortress aptly named Heavenly Body. On 27th September 1944 all crewmembers lost their lives in this tragic accident

• Pilot 1st Lt Micheal H. Primus
• Co-Pilot 1st Lt Louis J. Deputy
• Navigator 2nd Lt Richard J. Hermann
• Bombardier 2nd Lt Robert C. Simmons
• Engineer T/Sgt Roy E. Griswold
• Radio Op T/Sgt Claude Keele
• Ball Turret S/Sgt Harry Stoever
• Wing Gunner S/Sgt Lawrence Richter
• Tail Turret S/Sgt Americo Vergili
• Mobile Training Unit S/Sgt Ralph W. Franke
• Mobile Training Unit S/Sgt John C. Barry
• Mobile Training Unit S/Sgt Edward Shively

They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.

Sources

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 05 April 2020), memorial page for 2Lt Robert Campbell Simmons (9 Jul 1920–27 Sep 1944), Find a Grave Memorial no. 56294377, citing Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England ; Maintained by Martin Douglas Packer (contributor 47912178). Find A Grave Memorial 56294377.