Tribute to Robert D. Cookson Sr. and B-29er's of the Marianas
  • Home- Uncle Bob
  • Uncle Bob's Letters
    • Uncle Bob's Letters 1943 >
      • Jan. 1943
      • Feb. 1943
      • March 1943
      • April 1943
      • May 1943
      • October 1943
      • June 1943
      • July 1943
      • August 1943
      • September 1943
      • November 1943
    • Uncle Bob's Letters 1944 & 1945 >
      • January 1944
      • February 1944
      • March 1944
      • April 1944
      • May 1944
      • June 1944
      • August 1944
      • September 1944
      • October 1944
      • November 1944
      • December 1944
      • January 1945
      • February 1945
      • Last letter mailed home- __06 March 1945__
      • Last letter found in his belongings after his death-not mailed
  • Uncle Bob youth images
  • Uncle Bob Training/Becoming Radar Operator
  • Uncle Bob KIA
  • KIA - The Flight and Collision
  • KIA - The Aftermath
  • Returning Uncle Bob's Remains to the U.S. 1948
  • Z Square 8 CRASH SITE PHOTOS
  • POWs in Hyogo Ken eye-witness accounts, crash of the Z Square 8
  • Visit to Crash Site/Memorial. April 2015
  • Osaka Kempeitai Execution of Nelson and Augunas
  • Aircrews/Missions
  • 500th Bomb Group
  • Z-6 "Draggin' Lady"
  • Z-6 "Booze Hound"
  • Z-7 "Hell's Belle"
  • Z-8 "Mission to Albuquerque"
  • Z-9 "Nina Ross"
  • Z-10 "Punchin' Judy"
  • 1st Incendiary Raid report, Tokyo, 9 March 1945
  • Incendiary Raid Reports, Kobe, 17 March 1945. Z-8 crew lost.
  • Unofficial History of the 73rd Wing Book
  • Algy Augunas of Z-8, "Mission to Albuquerque", Radio Operator, POW/Executed
  • Erwin A. Brousek of Z-8 "Mission to Albuquerque", Bombardier
  • Herschel W. Connor of Z-8 "Mission to Albuequerque", Flight Engineer
    • Connor War Diary
  • Robert E. Copeland of Z-8, "Mission to Albuquerque", Pilot/Co-Pilot, KIA
  • George Lucas of Z-8, Crew Chief
  • Richard A. Field of Z-6, "Draggin' Lady", Pilot
  • Richard Dodds of Z-6, of "Draggin' Lady", Pilot-Co/Pilot
  • Douglas F. Bulloch of Z-6, "Draggin' Lady", Left Gunner/Spotter
  • Charles R. Maples of Z-6, "Draggin' Lady", Radio Operator
  • Romeo "Raymond" Rendina of Z-6, "Draggin Lady", Tail Gunner-secondary crew, Engle.
  • Harry Gerson of Z-6, "Booze Hound", Radar Operator-replaced Bob Cookson
  • Francis J. Merrick of Z-6, "Draggin Lady," Navigator
  • Jack L. Heffner of Z-7,and Z-11, "Hell's Belle" and "Holy Joe", Radar Operator
  • Jack Lebid of Z-7, "Hell's Belle", Radio Operator
  • Edwin Lawson of Z-22, "Leading Lady", CFC "Ring" Gunner
  • James R. Farrell of Z-34, "Frisco Nannie", Aircraft Commander
  • Jack V. Arterburn of Z-34, "Frisco Nannie", Flt.Eng.
  • Harold Arbon of Z-36, "Lil Abner," Aircraft Commander
  • Harold Arbon Saipan photo collection
  • Ray "Hap" Halloran of V-27, "Rover Boy Express", Navigator-survived war
  • Billy J. Burgess of E Triangle 27, "Good Deal", CFC Gunner
  • John L. Wright, Circle X 39, "Indiana," CFC Gunner, KIA
  • Nicolas V. Van Ness of Block "O" 15, "Green Hornet", Bombardier
  • Gerald J. Murphy of Aircraft #42-6379, Tail Gunner
  • John R. McNamara Jr., 499th Bomb Group
  • Junichi Ogata of the 56th Sentai, Capt., Fighter pilot
  • Meeting Capt. Ogata's Daughter April 2015
  • Z-8 Scale Tribute Build
  • Tribute Show Car - "Reverence" - Dodge Challenger
  • Misc Mission Reports/Documents of Interest
  • Photo Galleries (5 galleries)
  • Color Photos on Saipan
  • B29 Nose Art - Larry Mire collection
  • Mariana Islands Aircraft Designations
  • WWII Surrender Chaplain Observation
  • The B29 Aircraft
  • WWII War Aircraft Facts
  • Comemorative Air Force's B-29 "FiFi"
  • Links
  • Contact Us
  • Change Log
Picture
Uncle Bob's Purple Heart provided by his granddaughter, Darla.

MIA/KIA Honor Roll

Uncle Bob- KIA, 17 March 1945

Morning report image 1
Moring report image 2
Thirty days after the loss of our uncle's aircraft, the Z Square 8, the Fitzgerald crew was still listed as MIA on the 881st Bomb Squadron Morning Report.  Interestingly, our uncle's original crew on the Z Square 6 is also listed directly below that, indicating that that crew (Calhoun) was going to Hawaii for recreational leave.

Sadly for us, if Uncle Bob had not been such an exemplary radar operator and had not been hand picked by
Major Fitzgerald for his crew on the Z Square 8 the previous December, 1944, Uncle Bob would not only have been going on leave to Hawaii, he would have survived the war with his buddies on the Z Square 6.

Picture

Z Square 8 aircraft history
MIA/KIA Honor Roll
Picture
Tuscarawas County youth roster of those KIA during WWII
Picture

'Missing in Action' Telegram
(Courtesy T. Cookson & B. Cookson)
Air Medal and Oak Leaf cluster letter
(Courtesy T. Cookson & B. Cookson)

Douglas MacArthur sympathy letter
(Courtesy T.Cookson)

KIA - Newspaper Articles from Microfiche

From "The Daily Times"

Newspaper article 1
(Courtesy of R.Cookson)

Article text below:

ROLL of HONOR
Sgt Robert Cookson Missing over Japan
SSgt Robert D. Cookson, Sr., 22, of 420 Cross street, Uhrichsville, radar operator on a B-29, has been missing since a bombing raid over Japan March 17, his wife and family were notified by the war department yesterday.  Sgt. Cookson, who already has at least 12 major missions to his credit was based at Saipan.  He received his training at Scott Field, Ill, Boca Raton, Fla., Walker Army Air Field, Kansas. 

He entered the service Jan. 21, 1943, and went overseas last November 10.  His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Russell Cookson of Goshen and his wife is the former Daisy Frances.  They have three children.  He also has two sisters, Eileen and Jane, both at home, and one brother, PFC Richard Cookson, who is in Hawaii.

*April 13, 1945


Picture
Picture

Also from "The Times"...

Newspaper article 2
(Courtesy of R.Cookson)

Article text below:

Prisoner Priest Buries T.C. Youth  
Staff Sgt. Robert D. Cookson, Sr., 22, of Uhrichsville, who was reported missing in action over Japan last April 12th, was killed in action on March 17th, 1945, according to word received by his wife, Mrs. Daisy Frances Cookson, 420 Cross Street, Uhrichsville, from the War Department. 
Staff Sgt. Cookson, a radar operator aboard a B-29 Superfortress was instantly killed when his ship was struck by two Jap suicide planes and fell into a prisoner of war camp at Kobe, Japan. 
Details of the accident were supplied the family by a Detroit priest who was a prisoner of war in the camp.  The priest said he secured permission from his captors to bury members of the bomber crew.  He said the bomber broke in two pieces and that all but two members of the crew were killed instantly.  Sgt. Cookson was born in Rt. 3, this city, where he lived most of his life. 
At the time of his induction January 21st, 1943, he was employed by the Republic Steel Co., of Massillion. He was graduated from Midvale High School in 1939.  In addition to his wife he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Russell Cookson of Rt. 3, city;  three children, Robert, Jr., Carol Sue and Lois Jean, all at home; a brother Richard Cookson, serving with the U.S. Army on Ie Shima;  and two sisters, Misses Jane and Eileen Cookson, both of Rt. 3, this city. 
    
* Oct. 31, 1945    

More from "The Times"

Newspaper article 3
(Courtesy of R.Cookson)



Article text below:

Widow of Airman Receives Citation
Mrs. Daisy Cookson, 420 Cross Street, Uhrichsville, has received the presidential citation which was awarded posthumously to her husband, SSgt Robert Cookson, who was killed while flying a mission over Kobe, Japan, on March 17,1945. 
Mrs. Cookson recently talked with Father Alvin Lafier, of Detroit, Mich., who was a prisoner in the Kobe prisoner of war camp at the time her husband was shot down.  He said that the B-29 on which her husband was a radar operator was the lead plane and was sighting the target before the raid when it was attacked by two suicide planes and shot down.  Father La Siear said that he officiated at the services for the nine crew members who were killed.

Mrs. Cookson also has a Citation of Honor, which was signed by Gen. Arnold, and has received a notice that the Purple Heart will be sent to her. 

* Dec. 21, 1945   


Uncle Bob's cemetary marker
(Courtesy B. Cookson)
Bracelet
Uncle Bob's bracelet included his name, rank and serial number. We speculate he was wearing this when he was KIA, but we cannot be sure. Returned to our family after the war
metal tag
This tag is probably a graves registration tag...but it may also be for a foot locker. Thanks to Bud, John, and Rick for their input
Medals
Honor Citation


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.