Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
BREITBACH, Robert J.: Difference between revisions
(New page: BREITBACH, Robert J. (Dubuque, IA--Dubuque, IA, February 8, 1944). Pilot. Breitbach was one of five Army Air Force men, who perished in a crash of a B-17 bomber on the J.W. Seifker farm we...) |
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BREITBACH, Robert J. (Dubuque, IA--Dubuque, IA, February 8, 1944). Pilot. Breitbach was one of five Army Air Force men, who perished in a crash of a B-17 bomber on the J.W. Seifker farm west of [[CENTER GROVE]] on February 8, 1944. The plane from Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois, was on a routine training flight with Breitbach as the pilot. According to a newspaper report at the time, the plane came into the Dubuque area from the northeast and circled in the Hill section before heading directly west. It missed crashing into Heller's Tavern near Center Grove before smashing through a tree, ramming into a hillside, exploding and bursting into flames. | BREITBACH, Robert J. (Dubuque, IA--Dubuque, IA, February 8, 1944). Pilot. Breitbach was one of five Army Air Force men, who perished in a crash of a B-17 bomber on the J.W. Seifker farm west of [[CENTER GROVE]] on February 8, 1944. The plane from Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois, was on a routine training flight with Breitbach as the pilot. According to a newspaper report at the time, the plane came into the Dubuque area from the northeast and circled in the Hill section before heading directly west. It missed crashing into Heller's Tavern near Center Grove before smashing through a tree, ramming into a hillside, exploding and bursting into flames. | ||
Breitbach was an instructor at Chanute Field. He was assigned there after he had completed fifty millions in North Africa and Italy early in 1943. He participated in raids over Sicily, Sardinia, Italy and southern France without injury. | Breitbach was an instructor at Chanute Field. He was assigned there after he had completed fifty millions in North Africa and Italy early in 1943. He participated in raids over Sicily, Sardinia, Italy and southern France without injury. He was the first local flier granted a leave at home after completing fifty missions. While in the city, he had been a popular luncheon speaker and told of his experiences in war. | ||
[[Category: Military]] | [[Category: Military]] | ||
Revision as of 04:28, 6 February 2010
BREITBACH, Robert J. (Dubuque, IA--Dubuque, IA, February 8, 1944). Pilot. Breitbach was one of five Army Air Force men, who perished in a crash of a B-17 bomber on the J.W. Seifker farm west of CENTER GROVE on February 8, 1944. The plane from Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois, was on a routine training flight with Breitbach as the pilot. According to a newspaper report at the time, the plane came into the Dubuque area from the northeast and circled in the Hill section before heading directly west. It missed crashing into Heller's Tavern near Center Grove before smashing through a tree, ramming into a hillside, exploding and bursting into flames.
Breitbach was an instructor at Chanute Field. He was assigned there after he had completed fifty millions in North Africa and Italy early in 1943. He participated in raids over Sicily, Sardinia, Italy and southern France without injury. He was the first local flier granted a leave at home after completing fifty missions. While in the city, he had been a popular luncheon speaker and told of his experiences in war.