Robert Wilson Mansfield (1919 - 2001)

Born 30 Dec 1919 in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States

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Biography

Robert Mansfield was awarded the Air Medal.

Robert Mansfield was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal (United States).

Robert Mansfield was awarded the World War II Victory Medal.

1st Lieutenant Robert Mansfield served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 12 Jan 1942
Unit(s): 510th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force
Service ended:

1st Lieutenant Robert Mansfield was a prisoner in Stalag Luft III during World War II.

Robert was born 30 December 1919 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the song of Jack Mansfield and Freda Rehm.

He married Corinne Brooks 9 October 1942 in Lubbock, Texas.^[1]

Robert was the pilot of the B-17 bomber ‘In the Mood’, #42-29701, on a mission to Kiel, Germany 19 May 1943. The bomber was hit by flak and crashed into the Baltic Sea. Robert and two other crew members survived and became German POWs. The other seven crew members were killed or never recovered.

He was imprisoned in Stalag Luft III for the majority of the war. Near the end of the war he was transferred to Moosburg, Germany where he was liberated 29 April 1945 by the 3rd US Army.

He passed away 18 November 2001. ^[2]

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #19879759 (accessed 16 July 2023)
  Memorial page for Robert W Mansfield (1919-2001), citing Llano Cemetery, Amarillo, Randall County, Texas, USA (plot: Section GMB Lot 38 Space AAR); Maintained by Walter Dunn (contributor 46835578).
• 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920"
  citing Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Line: 29;
  FamilySearch Record: MFWK-NGL (accessed 16 July 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6N-CJP
  Robert Mansfield (0), single grandchild, in household of Leroy Mansfield (48) in Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States. Born in Indiana.
• 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
  citing enumeration district (ED) ED 8, sheet 5B, line 94, family 131, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2400; FHL microfilm 2,342,134.
  FamilySearch Record: HKG7-3T2 (accessed 16 July 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RZT-4GG Image number 01018
  Robert Mansfield (10), single son, in household of O W Mansfield (35) in San Angelo, Tom Green, Texas, United States. Born in Indiana.
• 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
  citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 66;
  FamilySearch Record: K43R-7WK (accessed 16 July 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89MY-DQLC
  Bobby Mansfield (20), single son, in household of Jack Mansfield (43) in Justice Precinct 1, Tom Green, Texas, United States. Born in Indiana.
• 1950 Census: "United States 1950 Census"
  citing Page: 7; Line: 15;
  FamilySearch Record: 6XPW-DF27 (accessed 16 July 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QHJ-5QHW-QPWP
  Bob W Mansfield (30), married, Rancher, head of household in Oldham, Texas, United States. Born in Texas.

Sources

1. ↑ Corinne Brooks Weds Lt. R. W. Mansfield In Lubbock Ceremony; At Home In Florida: "Newspapers.com"
   San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas) Tue, Oct 13, 1942, page 5
   Newspapers Clip: 128365039 (accessed 16 July 2023)
2. ↑ Death: "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007"
   FamilySearch Record: 6K7G-CMJ5 (accessed 16 July 2023)
   Robert Wilson Mansfield death 18 Nov 2001 (born 30 Dec 1919).

• Bob Mansfield On Missing List After Bomb Raid: "Newspapers.com"
  San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas) Fri, May 28, 1943, page 1
  Newspapers Clip: 128333778 (accessed 16 July 2023)
  • Bob Mansfield: "Newspapers.com"
    San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas) Fri, May 28, 1943, page 4
    Newspapers Clip: 128341320 (accessed 16 July 2023) Part 2 of 2
• Lt. Mansfield Nazi Prisoner, Parents Learn: "Newspapers.com"
  San Angelo Evening Standard (San Angelo, Texas) Tue, Jun 8, 1943, page 1
  Newspapers Clip: 128349109 (accessed 16 July 2023)
• San Angelo Pilot Held Prisoner in Germany: "Newspapers.com"
  Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas) Wed, Jun 9, 1943, page 14
  Newspapers Clip: 109197870 (accessed 16 July 2023)
• Bomber Pilot Heroes We’re Schoolmates at San Angelo: "Newspapers.com"
  Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas) Wed, Jun 16, 1943, page 9
  Newspapers Clip: 128344019 (accessed 16 July 2023)
• Lt. R. W. Mansfield Arrives In New York: "Newspapers.com"
  San Angelo Evening Standard (San Angelo, Texas) Mon, Jun 4, 1945, page 1
  Newspapers Clip: 128346673 (accessed 16 July 2023)
• Mansfield Describes Forced March Of Prisoners In Bitterly Cold Weather: "Newspapers.com"
  San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas) Sun, Jun 10, 1945, page 1
  Newspapers Clip: 128345415 (accessed 16 July 2023)
  • Mansfield Tells Of Forced March: "Newspapers.com"
    San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, Texas) Sun, Jun 10, 1945, page 11<br/Newspapers Clip: 128345687 (accessed 16 July 2023) Part 2 of 2
• Military: "U.S., World War II American and Allied Prisoners of War, 1941-1946"
  The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Provost Marshal General, 1920 - 1975; Record Group Number: 389
  Ancestry Record 8919 #76873 (accessed 16 July 2023)
  Grade: First Lieutenant or Chief nurse or Head dietitian or Head physical therapy aides; Name: Robert W Mansfield; Report Date: 19 May 1943; Residence Place: Texas, USA; Arm or Service Code: Air Corps; Report Source: Individual has been reported through sources considered official.; Grade Notes: First Lieutenant or Lt. Jr. Grade; Area Served: European Theatre: Germany; Detaining Country: Germany; Arm or Service: Air Corps; Organization Type: Bombardment, Medium; Latest Report Date: 20 Jul 1945; Status: Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated; Camp: Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11.
• National Archives - Missing Air Crew Report number 15719 Record Group 92: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, Series: Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs)
• American Air Museum in Britain - Robert W Mansfield
• American Air Museum in Britain - B-17 Bomber ‘In the Mood’ #42-29701