Rome, NY WWII Fallen

SGT. ROBERT F. HOLLAND

USAAF #12171282

8TH Air Force, 448th Bombardment Group, 714th Bomb Squadron

Robert Fredrick Holland was born September 30, 1914, in Utica, Oneida County, New York, to Timothy Jr (1891-1945) and Olive Bechard (1894-1926) Holland. Timothy was born in Utica and always lived there. Timothy worked for Morey Church Organ Builders, for his father as a cook at his restaurant, Tim’s Lunch, and as an attendant at the Marcy State Hospital. Olive was born February 27, 1893 in Dover, Kent, Ontario, Canada, and came to New York with her parents while still a young girl. Timothy and Olive were married September 24, 1912, in Utica, New York.

Robert was the first of three children born to Timothy and Olive. Leo Eugene (1917-2004) and Mary F Daly (1916-?) were his siblings. After his Mother died, Robert lived with his grandparents, Timothy Sr. and Rose Holland in Utica.

On June 28, 1938, Robert Holland and Lillian Esther Paquette obtained a license to marry in Rome, New York. On July 9, 1938, Robert and Lillian married at St. Leo’s Church, Holland Patent, New York. Attendants were Robert’s sister, Mary, and her husband, Eugene Daly. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Holland took a motor trip in the New England states for their honeymoon.

Lillian was a graduate of Holland Patent Central School and Oneonta State Normal School and taught school in Rome, New York, for many years prior to her marriage. Robert attended Utica Free Academy and was employed at the Hotel Martin and later by Rome Cable Corporation.

Robert registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, in Rome, New York. He was 5’10” tall, weighed 162 pounds, and had brown eyes and brown hair. He lived with his wife at 323 West Embargo Street in Rome, New York, and worked for Rome Cable Corporation.

Robert Holland enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 15, 1942, in Albany, New York. He was inducted into the USAAF October 15, 1942, at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Pvt. Holland trained as an electrician specialist at Midland Flying Field, Midland, Texas, and at the Advanced Flying School at Moore Field, Mission, Texas. He graduated from the Army Air Force Armament School at Lowry Field, Colorado, in April 1943. On May 17, 1943, Sgt. Holland received his combat crew wings from the Army Air Force Flexible Gunner School, Kingman, Arizona. He then spent a week with his family in Rome, New York, before reporting to Salt Lake City, Utah, Tucson, Arizona, and Blythe Field, California, for additional training. Sgt. Holland arrived in England in November 1943. He was a member of the 8th Air Force, 448th Bombardment Group, 714th Bomb Squadron, Seething Air Field, Station 146, near Norwich, England.

Sgt. Holland was a crewmember of a B-24H Liberator, serial number 42-52115, nicknamed “Hell’s Belle.” The crew consisted of Pilot 2Lt. Edward A. Markiewicz, Co-Pilot 2Lt. Donald Keegstra, Navigator 1Lt. Harry J. Oppelt, Gunner Sgt. Emmett E. Fallert, Gunner, Sgt. Robert F. Holland, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner SSgt. David T. Marsh, and Radio Operator SSgt. Henry J. Opper.

On February 10, 1944, Sgt. Holland was aboard the Hell’s Belle, which was assembling for a mission to bomb Gilze-Rijen Airfield in the Netherlands. The plane stalled, lost its wings, caught fire, and crashed near Hill Farm, Badingham. The tail fin landed in a hedge at Parham. Both sites were near Framlingham, Suffolk, England. All crewmembers were killed.

Reports conflict in that some say there was a mid-air collision and others say the pilot of the “Boomerang” (42-52132) avoided the collision but crashed due to violent maneuvering to avoid a collision with “Hell’s Belle.”

From https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/aircraft/42-52132:

Later, while forming up over England, Boomerang, broke apart and crashed in bad weather after the pilot's violent maneuvering attempts to avoid a midair collision with another B-17. The airplane disintegrated and failed to return to base (FTR). The pilot's violent maneuvering also caused the tail turret to separate from the aircraft, with the overloads on the aircraft's wings buckling them, as well, during the aircraft's violent maneuvers. Seven crew members were unable to bail out from the plane and were killed. Three bailed successfully, survived, and returned to service.

From http://www.b24bestweb.com/hellsbelle-v6-1.htm:

Hell’s Belle (42-52115)

Stalled after a mid-air collision with 42-52132 (and after the pitot heater had failed?), lost its wings and exploded 10 Feb 44 during assembly. Wreckage fell scattered at oaken Hill Farm, Badingham, and the tail fin landed in a hedge at Parham, both near Framlingham, Suffolk.

From http://www.b24bestweb.com/132.htm:

Boomerang (42-52132)

Crashed 10 Feb 44, 2 miles west of Tibenham, after mid-air collision (MAC) with 42-52115 during assembly (3 SAD Field Engineering salvage list states it collided with a P-47). (Gilze-Rijen, Netherlands) Salvaged 10 & 11 Feb 44 at Tibenham.

Mrs. Lillian Holland received a telegram from the War Department on February 22, 1944, informing her that Sgt. Robert F. Holland was killed in action in England. She was told that more details would follow in a letter from the War Department.

Sgt. Robert F. Holland was interred in a military cemetery in Cambridge, England, until July 1948. U.S. Army Transport Ship Lawrence Victory brought back to the United States the bodies of 5,734 war dead who were interred in European military cemeteries. Sgt. Holland was one of nine from the Utica, New York, area. His body arrived in Rome, New York, on August 3, 1948.

Visitation was August 3, 1948, at the Doyle Funeral Home in Utica, New York. A full military funeral was held August 4, 1948, and interment at Saint Agnes Cemetery, in Utica.

Sgt. Holland was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Rome (New York) Medal of Honor. He is listed on the World War II Honor List of Dead from New York and the U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead 1939-1945. Sgt. Robert F. Holland is also listed in the Roll of Honour, page 188, in the American Memorial Chapel of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England. The Roll of Honour is a 473-page book containing a personal message from General Eisenhower and the name, rank, and service details of the 28,000 American soldiers stationed in Great Britain who gave their lives in World War II.

Sgt. Holland is named on the Roll of Honour at the American Air Museum in Britain at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, England. He is also listed on the Honour Roll of the 448th Bomb Group, Station 146, Seething Airfield in England.

The 448th Bombardment Group Monument at the Seething Airfield pays homage to the entire group, including the 714th Bomb Squadron in which Sgt. Holland served. A monument to the 448th Bomb Group is located at St. Margaret and St. Remigius Cemetery, Seething, Norfolk, England. The inscription reads: In Memory of the Men of the 448th Bomb Group, 8th United States Air Force, who served at Seething Air Field, December 1943 to April 1945. Fighting for Freedom, 350 Men Killed in Action. Dedicated June 6th 1984.

On Memorial Day, May 29, 1944, the city of Rome, New York, paid tribute to their heroes of six wars including World War II. Sgt. Holland was cited as one of 15 gold-starred names on a new service record in Bellamy Park.

On May 30, 1947, a dedication of a bronze plaque and a high mass were held at St. Peter’s Church, Rome, New York, in memory of members of the church who sacrificed their lives in World Wars I and II. Sgt. Robert F. Holland was among the ten names inscribed on the plaque, which was placed in the vestibule.

Sgt. Holland is on the Honor List of Dead and Missing Personnel, Army and Air Force, World War II, from Oneida County, New York, a Genealogy Trails website.

Lillian Holland did not marry again. She taught school in Rome, New York, until retirement and died in 2004. She is buried next to her husband in Saint Agnes Cemetery, Utica, Oneida County, New York.

End notes: This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project, a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3 web sites. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact hillerson@beyondbb.com.