384th BGHA - 2nd Lt. Robert Stanley Griffin Crew

2nd Lt. Robert Stanley Griffin Crew

Killed in Action: March 19, 1945

Reigate Hill, Surrey, England

2nd Lt. Robert Griffin crew | Courtesy of the 384th Bomb Group Heritage Association research website, 384thBombGroup.com

The 384th Bomb Group was well-acquainted with the hazards of combat, from flak bursts, to enemy attacks, and mechanical failures, but the mission flown on March 19, 1945, proved that cloud coverage could be the most unavoidable threat.

On March 19, 1945, 2nd Lt. Robert Stanley Griffin (pilot) and his crew were on board B-17G 43‑39035 targeting the Braunkohle-Benzin Synthetic Oil Plant in Bohlen, Germany. This mission was the 384th’s 292nd mission, and the Eighth Air Force’s 896th.

Captain Henry W. Minor Jr., 41st “C” Group Air Commander reported in the 19 March 1945 Air Commander’s Narrative that “the route was flown into the target as briefed and without incident until we hit extremely dense persistent contrails and cirrus clouds at bombing altitude.” This weather would foreshadow the challenges to come.

After successfully dropping their bombs on the targets, the crews regrouped into formation and headed back to Grafton Underwood; however, once the Group crossed the English Channel, a dense haze and 300-foot ceiling was encountered. To ensure the safety of the formation, Capt. H.W. Minor ordered all aircraft to proceed to base individually, forcing the pilots to navigate the deteriorating conditions on their own. Due to the weather conditions, no radio contact could be made with the ground, further isolating all crews.

In an effort to keep the ground in sight, 2nd Lt. Griffin dropped below the overcast, flying at an estimated hieght of 200 feet off the ground. As the aircraft passed over Redhill Airdrome, visibility was further reduced by drizzle on his windshield. Witnesses in the town of Reigate, Surrey, England observed the aircraft heading directly for Reigate Hill, which was hidden behind the clouds. At approximately 1740 hours, the aircraft struck the rising ground.

B-17G 43-39035 | Courtesy of 384thBombGroup.com

Microfilm of the crash of B-17G 43-39035 | Courtesy of Aircraft Accident Report #45

The accident board and subsequent report ultimately deemed the tragedy to be pilot error; however, the weather and environmental hazards were the most costly factors. 2nd Lt. Griffin’s decision to drop below the 300-foot ceiling was a knowledgeable and calculated attempt to navigate through dense haze and cloud cover to bring his men home safely. The obscured terrain of Reigate Hill was simply an unavoidable obstacle.

2nd Lt. Griffin’s sacrifice, and that of his eight crewmembers, was not in vain; their accident revealed a key takeaway for the Group that future tragedies could be prevented if pilots frequently reset their altimeters according to local weather reports.

While the accident board was tasked with the technical analysis of the crash, the true weight of the incident was carried within the other airmen of the 384th, and in the hearts of the families they left behind.

We honor and remember:

2nd Lt. Robert Stanley Griffin, Age: 24 (Pilot)

Hometown: San Diego, California

Missions flown: 14

Resting place: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California

2nd Lt. Herbert Seymour Geller, Age: 21(Co-Pilot)

Hometown: Detroit, Michigan

Missions flown: 13

Resting place: Machpelah Cemetery, Ferndale, Michigan

2nd Lt. Royal Arthur Runyon, Age: 23 (Navigator)

Hometown: Keokuk County, Iowa

Missions flown: 14