SOLDIER’S NEWS.
Ninth Air Force Bomber Base, France—Robert C. Thunhorst, a radio-gunner in the “Black Death” B-26 Marauder group, has been promoted to Technical Sergeant. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Thunhorst, of 426 First Ave. SE.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, February 12, 1945
LeMars Youth With Bomb Group Honored by War Department
A United States Ninth Air Force Bomber Base, France—T. Sgt. Robert C. Thunhorst, LeMars, Ia., is a radio gunner with the 391st Marauder bomb group which has just been awarded the War Department citation for its devastating attacks against the enemy during the recent German counter offensive.
The “Black Death” group won battle honors “for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy from December 23 to December 26, 1944,” in which “combat crew members of the 391st bombardment group (M) fought magnificently despite overwhelming odds and men who were wounded remained at their posts and continued firing, and aircraft shout out of the sky went down with their guns still blazing at the enemy.”
Sgt. Thunhorst is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis E. Thunhorst, of LeMars.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, February 25, 1945
A PLEASANT SMALL-WORLD INTERLUDE IN GRIM WAR
Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Thunhorst have received a letter telling them of a small-world meeting between their sons, Pfc. Kenneth F. Thunhorst and T/Sgt. Robert Thunhorst. Kenneth is a radio operator with an infantry unit in Patton’s Third Army. Bob is in the Ninth Air Corps, radio operator and waist gunner.
Kenneth had Robert’s latest address, and when he got a 72-hour leave, decided to look his brother up. But in the mean time Robert had been transferred. The air forces men told Kenneth not to worry about that; he could hitchhike to see his brother, and so he did, on Army planes, from field to field. Before he found Robert, however, his leave time came perilously closed to being over.
He phoned back to tell his commanding officer, telling him of his predicament. The officer said: “What the heck! Go on until you find your brother. Maybe we can run this outfit until you do.” Leaving the Army flat on its back, Kenneth continued the search, and spent two very enjoyable days with Robert before his extended leave ran out, returning to duty by Army plane.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, May 17, 1945
NEWS of the Boys in the Service
T/Sgt. Robert C. Thunhorst, 29-year-old aerial gunner from LeMars has been assigned to the Ninth air force’s “Tiger Stripe” B-29 Marauder group of the Ninth air force. Thunhorst, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis E. Thunhorst, has flow more than 45 bombing missions in the European theater of operations and has been awarded the air medal with eight clusters for aerial achievement.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, June 12, 1945
Robert Calvin Thunhorst was born Dec. 17, 1924 to Louis E. and Alvina Schuldt Thunhorst. He died Nov. 3, 1990 and is buried in LeMars Memorial AKA City Cemetery, Plymouth County, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
