What isi it you would like to know about Lt. Robert Stricker?
His plane/crew was shot down 13 Feb 1945 while on a bombing mission to Vienna, Austria. According to the MACR, they received a direct hit in the # 4 engine, with then engine falling off the wing. The plane made a 180 degree turn and seemed to be under control until it went out of sight of the witnesses to the event.
This MACR was/is in very poor condition, virtually unreadable for the most part. I don't know about Lt Stricker being KIA as a POW. I would have to take your word on that because I have no information regarding that.
They were flying A/C # 44-6163 and flying in the Able # 2 position of the formation. I can provide you with the names of the crew members:
Pilot: Lt Phillip N. Whitman
Co-Pilot: Lt Leon H. Drake, Jr.
Navigator: Lt Ferdinand C. Thiel, Jr.
Bombardier: Lt Robert Stricker
Top Turret/Eng: T/Sgt Robert Driver
Radio Operator/Gnr: T/Sgt James Sanders
Left Waist Gnr: S/Sgt James McPadden
Right Waist Gnr: S/Sgt Charles McDonald
Ball Turret Gnr: S/Sgt Lester Smith
Tail Gnr: S/Sgt Charles Anderson, Jr.
I can also provide you with most, if not all, of the missions that Lt Stricker flew during his tour of duty. Just let me know if that is something that would be of interest or value to your memorial to him.
Joel Swindlehurst
463rd Bomb Group Historian
www.463rd.org Proud son of 1/Lt Leroy J. Swindlehurst (1921-1950)
Navigator, 772nd Sq., 463rd BG