Morris, Robert S.

Robert S. Morris
Aug. 6, 1923-Jan. 9, 1945

Cpl. Robert Morris Killed Tuesday in Crash in Georgia

Buchanan Man wounded, two other Berrien boys listed as casualties.

Cpl. Robert S. Morris, 21, a gunner and mechanic on a B-24, was killed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1945, Tuesday in an airplane crash at Chatham field, Savannah, Ga., according to worked received early today by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. (Lillian Vida Steinbauer) Morris, 324 south Fifth Street. Morris was one of 11 men killed when a B-24 bomber crashed and burned eight miles south of the Chatham field it was learned. One member of the crew parachuted to safety.

One of five in Service.

Cpl. Morris was one of the five serviceman sons of Mr. and Mrs. Morris. He was born in Niles, August 6, 1923, and was a student of Eastern Michigan college of Education, Kalamazoo, prior to entering the Army. He was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church and of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. The airman entered the Army in April 1942 and received his mechanic training at Hessler Field, Miss., and attendee gunnery school at Tyndall Field, Fla. He was transferred to Chatham field last November. 

To return body.

Surviving are the parents; a sister, Mrs. Leo Rasmussen, Vicksburg and the four brothers, Lt. Richard E. Morris, Aberdeen, MD, PFC, Edward H., Camp Bland, Fla., Pvt, Harold D. Morris, Fort Monmouth, NJ, and Walter G. Morris, seaman second class, Norman, Okla.  The body will be sent to the Rutherford Funeral Home. 

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Details of fatal crash learned here.

The family of Cpl, Robert S. Morris, 21, is today awaiting the arrival of his body in Niles after receiving word early Wednesday of his death in a bomber crash Tuesday afternoon near Chatham air field, Savannah, Ga. Cpl Morris, an engineer, was one of the two Michigan flyers among the 11 Army airmen killed in the b-24 Liberator bomber crash eight miles south of the air field on Tuesday.  An Army spokesman said only one crew member parachuted from the plane which was on a routine flight from the field. The pilot, Lt. J.W. Milkey, of Detroit, was also killed in the accident.  Cpl. Morris was one of the five servicemen sons of Mrs. and Mrs. Richard Morris, 325 South Fifth Street.  At least three of the brothers are expected to return to Niles for the funeral services.   

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown