ROBERT E DIBBLE graduated Class of 42-13 from Kirtland Bombardier School, Albuquerque, NM

2LT Robert Eugene Dibble

418th BS/100th BG(H)
O-731035
Original crew list:

Rank Name Position Fate Date

1LT Edgar F. Woodward, Jr. Pilot INT Sept. 6, 1943 Switzerland

F/O John H. Thompson CP POW Sept. 6, 1943 Stuttgart, Germany

2LT Robert E. Dibble BOM KIA Aug. 15, 1943 Merville, France

2LT Emanuel A. Cassimatis NAV POW Sept. 6, 1943 Stuttgart, Germany

S/SGT Frank Danella TTE POW Sept. 6, 1943 Stuttgart, Germany

T/SGT Melvin E. Gaide R/O POW Sept. 6, 1943 Stuttgart, Germany

S/SGT Donald H. Fletcher WG POW Sept. 6, 1943 Stuttgart, Germany

S/SGT William D. Brooks TG POW Sept. 6, 1943 Stuttgart, Germany

S/SGT Charles J. Griffin WG POWSept. 6, 1943 Stuttgart, Germany

S/SGT George A. Janos BT POW Sept. 6, 1943 Stuttgart, Germany

ROBERT DIBBLE - Home state: MI

Aug 13, 1943

Purple Heart awarded to Lt. Robert E. Dibble, bombardier who was wounded over Hannover. Exploding shell drove glass into his face, fortunately his eyes were not injured. Colonel Kesseler presented the award and remarked, "Young man, this is the last one of these I want to give you." Thanking the Colonel, Lt. Dibble replied, "I sure don't want another one, Colonel."

Aug 15, 1943

A late in the day raid on Merville and Lille, France. Notable both in the number of B-17s taking part and the fact the 100th suffered its first visible death in action. Today's causality was Lt. Robert E. Dibble (See Aug 13th, 43 entry) of Bangor, Michigan, killed when a piece of flak came the nose of the "Poontang" of which he was the bombardier. Lt. Cassimatis, Navigator tried to give aid, but was unable to save Dibble's life - he was dead when the ship landed at Thorpe Abbotts. Many of the crews asking about Flak Vests of which they have read - some thought it would have perhaps saved Dibble. He had only two day prior received the Purple Heart - all pleased that he received the decoration before Jerry got him.

Robert E Dibble