Robert William Trathen

Robert Trathen was born in 1921 in Michigan to Estelle and William Trathen. The family moved to Wisconsin. His mother remarried after a divorce and Robert lived with his mother, Estelle Delbridge and family members in Teaneck, NJ.

Robert attained the rank of First Lieutenant in the 365th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group of the Air Force. He was killed in action on 8/24/44, above Germany, on his 30th mission. He was scheduled to return to the United States to instruct Air Cadets.

This brave Air Force Officer was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal, the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart Medal. He is buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Cambridge, England.

WWII Scrapbook

1. September 24, 1944

Ancestry.com

1. 1940 United States Federal Census about Estelle Delbridge (mother)
2. WWI, WWII and Korean War Casualty Listings
3. World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas
4. U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949 for Robert W. Trathen

American Battle Monuments Commission

1. Robert W. Trathen

fold3.com (Historical Military Records)

1. WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualty List
2. Profile - Robert W. Trathen

National World War II Memorial, Wash., D.C. Website

1. War Department Files - 1LT Robert W. Trathen
2. Overseas American Cemeteries - Robert W. Trathen

Find A Grave Website

1. 1Lt Robert W. Trathen