Sergeant Robert Ray Earp

Air Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster

Robert Ray Earp was born August 29, 1913 to Mr and Mrs Beverly W Earp. He was raised in Faywood NM and graduated from Grenville High School. In 1937 he enrolled at NMAMC studying agriculture. In May 1942 he graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry. That same summer he joined the US Army Air Force. After training as a waist gunner he was assigned to B-17 #42-31409 and subsequently deployed to Chelveston England where they were assigned to the 364th Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group on Jan 22, 1944. The 305th was a distinguished unit under the command of Col. Curtis LeMay. The third week of February 1944 was named “Big Week” when Col Lemay was determined to take the fight directly to the German fighters by attacking their bases. In doing so it was hoped that holding the fighters to defend their bases would allow the main strike force greater ability to strike the primary industrial targets deeper in Germany. On February 22, 1944, B-17 #42-31409 was assigned as part of the group to attack the large northern fighter base at Alborg Denmark. Crippled by sustained enemy fire the plane went down in the North Sea off the coast of Denmark. No crew members were recovered. Sergeant Robert Ray Earp is memorialized on the Tablet of the Missing at the Cambridge American Cemetery. In 1960, his father, Beverly W Earp applied for and was granted a memorial cross at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in honor of his fallen son. Robert Ray Earp was 30 years of age at the time of his death.