ROBERT BRUCE CUMMING
Birth: 10 Jun 1923
Death: 21 Jul 1944
(age 21 years, 1 month, 11 days)
The late (deceased 1984) Mrs. S. E. Jessie Margaret (McAnally) Cumming headed a beautification committee for Clark Cemetery. She commissioned rock work to be done on the entrance gate that included memorial stone engravings in honor of her sons, Herbert Winfield and Robert Bruce Cumming who gave their lives, along with countless others, to fight tyranny during World War II. She had memorial headstones placed near her and her husband Samuel Eugene Cumming’s grave site at Clark Cemetery. Mrs. S. E. Cumming lost her husband and two of her boys within the span of just four years. Her husband, Samuel Eugene Cumming, died January 31, 1940. She lost her third son, Richard Alton Cumming in 1961.
Sgt. Robert Bruce Cumming
Sgt. Robert B. Cumming is buried at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial near Cambridge UK, in Grave E-2-34. The Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial site in England, 30.5 acres in total, was donated by the University of Cambridge. It lies on a slope with the west and south sides framed by woodland. The cemetery contains the remains of 3,812 of our military dead; 5,127 names are recorded on the Tablets of the Missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. Most died in the Battle of the Atlantic or in the strategic air bombardment of northwest Europe. His was awarded the Purple Heart.
Sergeant Robert Cumming’s Mission
Sgt. Cumming was the left waist gunner on 1st Lt Kenneth A. Smith’s crew in the 576th. Their aircraft was a B-24J Model #42-50650, Call Letter “E,” no nickname of record. The 392nd encountered fierce enemy fighter opposition on this mission. According to the 576th Squadron Diary, Lt Smith came back across Germany alone flying at altitude within range of light, medium, and heavy flak. When he finally landed at an emergency field in England, he had 65 flak holes in his plane. Sgt. Cumming was killed, right waist gunner Sgt. Norman G. Rose lost his leg while getting a ME-109, and tail gunner Sgt. Ronald E. Young was suffering from severe shock. The plane was escorted all the way home by Capt. Thomas J. McGeever (359th Fighter Group, 369th Fighter Squadron) in a P-51D pursuit plane who may have been the difference between their getting home or going down. Capt. McGeever on one occasion went down to the deck in an attempt to draw some of the flak away from the faltering ship, and on the whole trip out, he was there to encourage the crew and help them through the many rough spots. He crash-landed at RAF Manston, most likely due to fuel shortage. McGeever later was killed in action on 21 November 1944. Sgt. Cumming received the Purple Heart.
Sergeant Robert Cumming’s Mission
Sgt. Cumming was the left waist gunner on 1st Lt Kenneth A. Smith’s crew in the 576th. Their aircraft was a B-24J Model #42-50650, Call Letter “E,” no nickname of record. The 392nd encountered fierce enemy fighter opposition on this mission. According to the 576th Squadron Diary, Lt Smith came back across Germany alone flying at altitude within range of light, medium, and heavy flak. When he finally landed at an emergency field in England, he had 65 flak holes in his plane. Sgt. Cumming was killed, right waist gunner Sgt. Norman G. Rose lost his leg while getting a ME-109, and tail gunner Sgt. Ronald E. Young was suffering from severe shock. The plane was escorted all the way home by Capt. Thomas J. McGeever (359th Fighter Group, 369th Fighter Squadron) in a P-51D pursuit plane who may have been the difference between their getting home or going down. Capt. McGeever on one occasion went down to the deck in an attempt to draw some of the flak away from the faltering ship, and on the whole trip out, he was there to encourage the crew and help them through the many rough spots. He crash-landed at RAF Manston, most likely due to fuel shortage. McGeever later was killed in action on 21 November 1944. Sgt. Cumming received the Purple Heart.
Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, UK
A press release in the 392nd Group History Folder in the National Archives gives these additional details: “From his waist gun position, Staff Sergeant Norman G. Rose of Van Wert, Ohio fired almost incessantly at ME-109′s attempting to break up an attack by the Libs on Oberphaffenhofen. Knocking one down, he saw the others peel away as flak guns opened up. Shrapnel ripped through the fuselage, mortally wounding the other waist gunner [Sgt. Cumming]. Sergeant Rose, kneeling over the dying gunner, was himself wounded. In a scream his crew still hears, the Sergeant said, “Oh my God, the sons-of-bitches have cut off my leg.” But through the shock and semi-stupor induced by his wound, the Sergeant noted more danger to his crew. The bomber was on fire. There was nothing within reach to put out the fire except the body of his old friend and crewman [Sgt. Robert Cumming]. Nerving himself, Sergeant Rose rolled the dead gunner’s body over the spot where the smoke was thickest. The fire died; the crew and aircraft were saved.”
James Shannon Coffee
Final Salute on Memorial Day May 28, 2012
James Shannon Coffee, Specialist, and active member of the Texas State Guard, 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment. Weatherford, Texas, performed the Texas State Guard “Final Salute Ceremony” in honor of Captain Herbert Winfield Cumming and Sergeant Robert Bruce Cumming who were killed in action during World War II, Herbert on November 7, 1943 and Bob on July 21, 1944. Specialist Coffee stood at attention at the Soldier’s Cross erected in front of the memorial headstones for Herbert and Bob. At sunset taps was played as Spc. Coffee saluted Herbert, Bob and all our fallen heroes were killed in action – those associated with the families in Clark Cemetery and all such veterans of all wars.
Mission Accomplished
This “Final Salute” mission was completed on Memorial Day, May 28th 2012 by The Texas State Guard (TXSG). The Texas State Guard is one of the three branches of the Texas Military Forces (TXMF), reporting to The Texas Adjutant General located at Texas Military Forces HQ, Camp Mabry (Austin), Texas. The Commander in Chief of the Texas Military Forces is the Governor of Texas. The other two branches are the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG) and the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG). Spc. Coffee’s sister, Rebecca Knox, is married to Danny Knox, son of Lucille Clark who is buried in Clark Cemetery. We thank Spc. Coffee for this wonderful tribute in the performance of his duty.
Written by Dave Cumming (nephew of Bob)
photos courtesy of Dave Cumming (nephew of Bob)
James Shannon Coffee, Specialist, and active member of the Texas State Guard, 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment. Weatherford, Texas, performed the Texas State Guard “Final Salute Ceremony” in honor of Captain Herbert Winfield Cumming and Sergeant Robert Bruce Cumming who were killed in action during World War II, Herbert on November 7, 1943 and Bob on July 21, 1944. Specialist Coffee stood at attention at the Soldier’s Cross erected in front of the memorial headstones for Herbert and Bob. At sunset taps was played as Spc. Coffee saluted Herbert, Bob and all our fallen heroes were killed in action – those associated with the families in Clark Cemetery and all such veterans of all wars.
Mission Accomplished
This “Final Salute” mission was completed on Memorial Day, May 28th 2012 by The Texas State Guard (TXSG). The Texas State Guard is one of the three branches of the Texas Military Forces (TXMF), reporting to The Texas Adjutant General located at Texas Military Forces HQ, Camp Mabry (Austin), Texas. The Commander in Chief of the Texas Military Forces is the Governor of Texas. The other two branches are the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG) and the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG). Spc. Coffee’s sister, Rebecca Knox, is married to Danny Knox, son of Lucille Clark who is buried in Clark Cemetery. We thank Spc. Coffee for this wonderful tribute in the performance of his duty.
Written by Dave Cumming (nephew of Bob)
photos courtesy of Dave Cumming (nephew of Bob)
Bob with unknown people