Robert Russell
Shot down 4-12-1944 over Yugoslavia in B-24 Liberator bomber "Texas Lassie"
The B-24 Liberator bomber, "Texas Lassie", flew out of Giulia, Italy. Details went unknown until 2003 when it's Bombardier, Lt. Robert Russell, e-mailed an eyewitness account to the group's reunion organization.
Anti-aircraft flak and fighters attacked the "Texas Lassie" while bombing the aircraft assembly plant at Bad Voslau, Austria. "Texas Lassie" lost an engine and dropped from the formation. A Focke-Wulf Fw-190, the enemy's best fighter, blew off the top gun turret, killing S/Sgt. Leroy Butler, the Engineer/Gunner, on his first mission.
The B-24 plummeted, hydraulics gone, gas fumes everywhere, metal shards covering the wings. Survivors parachuted into Bosnia and were rescued. How authorities recovered Butler's body and buried it at Nettuno. IT goes unanswered. S/Sgt. Leroy Butler was the only KIA. The remainder of the crew were returned by Partisans on 4/15/44
2nd Lt. Robert B Russell was assigned to the 459th BG 756th Squadron.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): Bombardier.
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