Donald E. Robertson was born on August 24, 1921, in Morrill County, Nebraska. He was the son of John Oliver Robertson Jr. and Ethel E. Wiley Robertson. He was married to Barbara Jean Arthur. He entered military service in August 1942 and had previously been employed at a J.C. Penney store before his enlistment. He served in the 734th Bomber Squadron, 453rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Left Waist Gunner of B-24J #42-50703, nicknamed “Worry Bird” during World War II.

On February 9, 1945, the “Worry Bird” participated in a major bombing mission over Germany, where more than 300 B-24 bombers, escorted by P-51 fighters, successfully attacked the Rothensee oil plant at Magdeburg before returning to RAF Old Buckenham in Norfolk, England. As the aircraft approached base and entered the landing pattern, Worry Bird collided with another B-24, “Spirit of Notre Dame” (42-95102), during the hazardous approach phase near the airfield. The impact was catastrophic, causing Worry Bird to lose control and crash in a fireball at Bury’s Hall Farm in Carleton Rode, approximately 100 yards short of the runway, killing all 11 crew members instantly, while the other aircraft, though damaged, managed to regain control and land safely.

SSgt Robertson is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England. He also has a cenotaph in the Red Oak Cemetery, Red Oak, Lawrence County, Missouri.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, https://aviationtrails.co.uk, weremember.abmc.gov