Person:Robert Christenson (3)

Military Discharge: Avn. Cadet, Atched Section H 3027th AAF Base Unit (Pilot School-Adv-2E) Pecos Army Air Field, Pecos, Texas 22 May 1944

Individual Flight Record 8th Air Force 1st AD Command 40th CBW Wing 306th Bombing Group 369th Squadron

The 306th was a B-17 “Flying Fortress” bombardment group Based in Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, in south-central England, as part of the Eighth Air Force, the 306th was the longest continuously-serving bomb group of the Eighth Air Force during World War II, and led the first mission against a target in Germany. The novel and film Twelve O'Clock High were based in large part on incidents occurring in the group in 1942 and 1943.

During the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, attacked airfields and marshalling yards to help stop the German advance. Bombed enemy positions in support of the airborne assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945. Remained in the theater after V-E Day and engaged in special photographic mapping duty in western Europe and North Africa, 1945-1946. Inactivated December 1946, the group received the Distinguished Unit Citation with one Oak Leaf Cluster and six campaign stars

Judging from his flight record, it appears Bob started flying in Europe in January 1945--prior to VE Day on May 7/8 1945. It is likely he went straight into the Battle of the Bulge when he entered the European Theatre from logging pilot hours in the U.S..

1. ↑ Funeral 23 Feb 1998