Robert M. Totaro was born in 1921 in Ohio. He resided in Erie County, New York, prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on November 14, 1941, in Buffalo, New York. He was noted at the time of his enlistment as being employed as a Shipping and receiving clerk and also as Single, without dependents.

Robert served in the 550th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier of the B-17 #42-3544 'Stars and Stripes' during World War II. He was Killed in Action on January 5, 1944, when his B-17 crash-landed at Badwell Ash, Suffolk, England, while attempting to reach their base after the aircraft was severely battle damaged on a bombing mission over Bordeaux, France. Seven of his crewmates were also Killed In Action, only the tail gunner survived.

2Lt Totaro is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov