My Uncle was Robert Louis Duncan.  Born July 4, 1925 in Orangeburg, SC.  He trained at Freeman Field in 1944, and graduated in Class 44-D on April 15, 1944.  In the graduation index and the Class 44-D records, he is listed as Robert L. Ducan.  I have his letters to his mother from Freeman Field and a photo of his wing man in an AT-10 training flight.  Robert went on to B-17 training at Lockbourne AAF base, and then to MacDill for final Replacement Unit training. He shipped to England in December 1944 as a B-17 Pilot.  He was assigned to the 335^th Bomber Squadron, 95^th Bomber Group, 8^th Air Force.  He was KIA on March 3, 1945 on a mission to Brunswick.  All 9 crew members perished, and were awarded the Purple Heart and Air Medal.  His remains were recovered and returned to the US.  His remains, along with those of 4 of his crew were interred in a joint grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in June of 1950.  

click on image for larger view

Written on back of photo by his Mother: 
"This is the ship Robert was flying at Seymour, Ind.  He took this picture."

He flew 10 missions in 7 different B-17s.  The last mission was in the ship known as the PAISANO, 42-102450.  This plane had the distinction of being the lead ship in the very first bomber mission to Berlin on May 22, 1944.

click on image for larger view

Missions flown:
9 Feb 45 with 48269  (target Weimar)
17 Feb 45 with 338255 - minor battle damage (target Frankfurt)
21 Feb 45 with 2107204 (target Nurnberg)
22 Feb 45 with 2107204 (target Bamberg)
24 Feb 45 with 46598 - minor battle damage (target Bremen)
25 Feb 45 with 2107201 (Worry Bird) - major battle damage  (target Munich)
26 Feb 45 with 338942 (Belligerent Beauty)  (target Berlin)
27 Feb 45 with 338942 (Belligerent Beauty)  (target Leipzig)
2 Mar 45 with 2107204 (target Ruhland)
3 Mar 45 with 2102450 (Paisano)  Failed to return, mid-air collision with 297376 (S.J. Tavis) (target Brunswick)

Contributed by his Nephew, Robert Edward Duncan