Irwin Dobrow

Irwin Louis Dobrow was born in 1920 to Lithuanian Immigrants Harry and Rose Dobrow. He was the middle child of three boys; Saul, then Irwin, and Jacob, the youngest. Irwin grew up in Teaneck and graduated Teaneck High School in 1938.

Irwin was a member of the Student Council as well as the Rifle Club. Irwin wanted to become a big business man after he graduated high school. In the meantime, he worked as a store manager in his father’s stationary business on Teaneck Road for four years.

Irwin was accepted to Army Air Force cadet school in October of 1942 and commissioned a bombardier and second lieutenant on December 14th, 1943. He trained intensively at the Alexandria Army Air Field in Alexandria, Louisiana, before going overseas.

On July 16th, 1944, Lt Dobrow’s crew embarked on a B-17 bombing mission over Munich, Germany. Sadly, the plane caught some flak and Lt. Dobrow died from oxygen failure. This was Irwin’s last and thirtieth mission.

Lieutenant Dobrow was awarded the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, as well as the Purple Heart, posthumously. His remains were interred into Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Cambridge, England.

WWII Scrapbook

1. October 24, 1942
2. December 14, 1943
3. March 29, 1944
4. July 29, 1944
5. August 3, 1944
6. August 20, 1944

High School Yearbook

1. 1937 Yearbook, Page 73
2. 1938 Yearbook, Page 30
3. 1938 Yearbook, Page 143

American Battle Monuments Commission Website

1. Irwin L. Dobrow

Ancestry.com

1. 1930 United States Federal Census
2. 1940 United States Federal Census
3. U.S. WWII Jewish Servicemen Cards, 1942-1947
4. From World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas
5. U. S. Headstone and Interment Records for U. S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949 for Irwin L. Dobrow

fold3.com (Historical Military Records)

1. 1930 Census
2. Photo of B-17 "Ice Cold Katy"

Frank's Kirkman Genealogy Website (kirkmangenealogy.com)

1. Photo and list of 612th Bomb Squadron

401st Bomb Group (H) Association Website (401bg.org)

1. Recorded Missions of Dobrow, Irwin L. - 1st Lt.
2. Mission Details for Munich

Find A Grave Website

1. 2Lt Irwin L. Dobrow