Robert James Donaldson Jr.
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force
Service Number: 13046357
Unit: 528th Bomber Squadron, 380th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Role: Radio Operator, B-24 Liberator
Entered the service from: New Jersey
Died: February 19, 1943
Buried at: First United Methodist Cemetery, Williamstown, NJ
Staff Sergeant Robert James Donaldson Jr. was born on August 30, 1922, to Robert J. and Mary Donaldson. His early years were spent in Collingdale, PA, where the family lived at 130 Cherry Street and where his father worked in a wire factory. Besides Robert Jr., the family included a brother, Charles, and sisters Mary and Lillian.
A high school graduate, Robert Donaldson Jr. went to Philadelphia and enlisted in the Army Air Corps on January 7, 1942. After training as a radio operator, he was assigned to a B-24 bomber crew in the 528th Bomber Squadron, 380th Bombardment Group. Also in 1942, Robert Donaldson Sr. went into business for himself, founding Robert J. Donaldson, Inc., a company that specializes in the manufacture of woven wire products.
On February 19, 1943, at 0526 MWT, a Consolidated B-24D crashed eight miles northwest of Roswell, New Mexico, killing eight crewmembers. Engineer SSgt. Ralph E. King was able to parachute to safety and was uninjured. Killed in the crash were: 2Lt. Charles C. Wylie, Milwaukee, WI, pilot; 2Lt. Edward L. Games, Camden, NJ, co-pilot; 2Lt. Richard L. Morris, Haddonfield, NJ, bombardier; 2Lt. James E. McMullen, East Point, GA, navigator; Sgt. George Dickson, Barnsdall, OK, assistant engineer; SSgt. Robert J. Donaldson Jr., Sicklerville, NJ, radio operator; Sgt. Lesley W. Stinne Jr., Louisville, KY, assistant radio operator; and Sgt. John J. Yauch, Holliday Cave, WV, gunner.
Investigators determined that the mission had started as a four-airplane formation navigation and bombing exercise from Biggs Field, Texas. After ice caused engine failure on the lead aircraft, the B-24 entered a spin and suffered catastrophic structural failure, with the tail section and port wing separating before the aircraft exploded upon impact. Wreckage was scattered over a three-mile area.
Robert James Donaldson Jr. was brought home for burial. His parents lived out their lives in Sicklerville, Robert Sr. passing in October 1978, Mary Donaldson joining her son and husband on October 12, 1988. The Donaldson family still resides in the area, and the family business, Robert J. Donaldson, Inc., remains in operation.
Source: American Battle Monuments Commission
Plane Crashes Kill 2 More From Area
Camden Courier-Post —
So. Jersey Victims Reach Four Over Weekend in Air Mishaps
Army air crashes caused the death of two more South Jersey men while a Navy machinist’s mate saved himself by parachuting into the ocean.
Lieut. Edward L. Games, of Camden, son of Mrs. Howard T. Games, was among eight killed when an Army bomber crashed at Roswell, N. M. Deaths of Lieut. Richard L. Morris, of 230 Redman avenue, Haddonfield, and Staff Sergt. Robert J. Donaldson, Jr., of Sicklerville, in the same crash, were announced Saturday. Names of Lieutenant Games and his mother are not listed in the city directory and the War Department has not yet listed a street address. — Camden Courier-Post, February 22, 1943
Military Funeral for Lieut. Morris
Camden Courier-Post —
Services to Be Held Tomorrow in Haddonfield for Flier Killed in Crash
A military funeral will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow for Lieut. Richard L. Morris, 27, who was killed Friday in a bomber crash at Roswell, N. M., at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Morris, 230 Redman avenue, Haddonfield.
The body of Lieutenant Morris was accompanied here by Lieut. Richard R. Nowall, Jr., of Biggs Field, El Paso, Tex., home base of the plane. Lieutenant Nowall was a close friend of Lieutenant Morris. A military escort from Fort Dix will conduct the rites. Rev. G. Ernest Thomas, pastor of Haddonfield Methodist Church, of which Lieutenant Morris was a member, also will conduct services. Burial will be in Central Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
Lieutenant Morris was one of eight men killed in the crash, the Army announced. Another of the victims was Lieut. Robert J. Donaldson, Jr., 22, of Sicklerville. One aviator parachuted to safety.
Lieutenant Morris was a Haddonfield High School athletic star, playing baseball, basketball and football. He was employed by Public Service and was studying engineering at Drexel Institute in 1942 when he enlisted. He trained at Maxwell Field, Ala., Santa Ana Army Base, Calif., and graduated a bombardier on Dec. 12 at Williams Field, Chandler, Ariz. He served at the Davis-Monthan Field, Tucson, Ariz., before being sent to Biggs Field.
Three years ago Lieutenant Morris married the former Isabelle C. Monzo, of 13 Euclid avenue, Haddonfield, now a Brooklawn school teacher. They were active in amateur productions of Haddonfield Plays and Players. She went to El Paso to be near him a month ago and returned home for the funeral after learning of the tragedy. Also surviving are three sisters, Mrs. Howard D. Turner, of 100 Park avenue, Haddonfield; Mrs. Donald D. Beckman, 231 Reading avenue, Barrington; and Miss Jane Morris. — Camden Courier-Post, February 24, 1943