Asheville, N. C. - Col. Robert Morgan, commander of the famed Memphis
Belle B-17 Bomber that flew combat missions over Europe during World War
II, died late Saturday of complications from a fall, his wife said. He was
85.
Morgan was hospitalized April 22 with a fractured neck after falling
following an air show at Asheville Regional Airport, said a spokeswoman
for Mission Hospitals, where Morgan was treated.
His condition had been deteriorating in the last week or so, and
Morgan was taken off life - support systems, his wife, Linda said. His
wife, two daughters, a close family friend, and two ministers were at his
side when he died, she said.
A native of Asheville, Morgan became famous as the pilot of the
Memphis Belle, which flew 25 combat missions over Germany and France.
The crew completed its 25th mission May 17, 1943. It was a historic
number: The Belle was the first heavy bomber in the European theatre to
last 25 missions, the magic number needed for a crew to be sent home.
Doug
Belle B-17 Bomber that flew combat missions over Europe during World War
II, died late Saturday of complications from a fall, his wife said. He was
85.
Morgan was hospitalized April 22 with a fractured neck after falling
following an air show at Asheville Regional Airport, said a spokeswoman
for Mission Hospitals, where Morgan was treated.
His condition had been deteriorating in the last week or so, and
Morgan was taken off life - support systems, his wife, Linda said. His
wife, two daughters, a close family friend, and two ministers were at his
side when he died, she said.
A native of Asheville, Morgan became famous as the pilot of the
Memphis Belle, which flew 25 combat missions over Germany and France.
The crew completed its 25th mission May 17, 1943. It was a historic
number: The Belle was the first heavy bomber in the European theatre to
last 25 missions, the magic number needed for a crew to be sent home.
Doug
And a job well done!
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