1ST Lt. ROBERT RAKOFSKY, O-837041 KIA NBD.

1ST LIEUTENANT ROBERT RAKOFSKY, 0-837041 US Army KIA NBD. Lieutenant Rakofsky graduated from Haverhill High School in 1939 and the University of Pennsylvania in 1943. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps May 1, 1943, as an aviation cadet and was assigned to the University of Vermont for a six months preparatory course. He trained at Cochrane Field, Fla., Douglas, Ga., and advanced flight school at Napier Field, Ala., where he received his wings as a B-25 pilot. Lieutenant Rakofsky flew to Alaska in April, 1945, after an additional two months blind flying instruction, he flew with the 54th Troop Carrier Sqdn., 11th Air Force. On October 21, 1945, while returning to his base, at Anchorage, Alaska, with a group of soldier passengers, he crashed and all in the plane were killed. A strong crosswind had been sweeping across the strip forcing him to overshoot the field while attempting to land. In trying to pick up speed for another run his plane nosedived to the ground. He leaves his father, Frank M. Rakofsky, of 93 North Ave., and one brother.

1ST LIEUTENANT ROBERT RAKOFSKY, 0-837041 US Army Air Corps KIA NBD. Lieutenant Rakofsky graduated from Haverhill High School in 1939 and the University of Pennsylvania in 1943. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps May 1, 1943, as an aviation cadet and was assigned to the University of Vermont for a six months preparatory course. He trained at Cochrane Field, Fla., Douglas, Ga., and advanced flight school at Napier Field, Ala., where he received his wings as a B-25 pilot. Lieutenant Rakofsky flew to Alaska in April, 1945, after an additional two months blind flying instruction, he flew with the 54th Troop Carrier Sqdn., 11th Air Force. On October 21, 1945, while returning to his base, at Anchorage, Alaska, with a group of soldier passengers, he crashed and all in the plane were killed. A strong crosswind had been sweeping across the strip forcing him to overshoot the field while attempting to land. In trying to pick up speed for another run his plane nosedived to the ground. He leaves his father, Frank M. Rakofsky, of 93 North Ave., and one brother.

1- Haverhill Massachusetts – Haverhill  in World War Two