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STAFF
SERGEANT ROBERT C. REDDING was born in New Jersey on March 16, 1921 to
Charles and Evelyn Redding. His father, grandfather, and
great-grandfather had all served in the armed forces of the United
States. By
1930 his mother had re-married, to Albert J. Cooper, who worked as a
lather in building construction. The family lived on the Good
Intent-Woodbury Road in Deptford Township NJ. Robert Redding graduated
from
Pitman High School in neighboring Pitman NJ. His mother remarried again
at some point after the 1930 census, and in the early 1940s lived at 416 Taylor Avenue in Camden prior to
entering the service. Robert Redding had worked for the R.M.
Hollingshead Corporation in Camden NJ before his induction into the
Army.
After
entering the United States Army in September of 1942, Robert Redding
qualified for flight training, and received schooling at Miami Beach FL
and Walla Walla WA before going overseas. After completing 25 missions,
his plane was reported as
missing in action on October 8, 1943 on a mission against Bre4men. His body was not recovered
until after the war had ended. He was awarded the Air Medal with
Oak Leaf Cluster in absentia in January of 1944. The medal was awarded
to his mother at New Castle Army Air Force Base at Wilmington DE.
Robert
Redding was brought home after the war, and he was buried at Beverly
National Cemetery on July 19, 1950. He was survived by his mother Mrs.
Evelyn A. MacDonald, of 416 Taylor Avenue, Camden NJ, half brother
William, and three half-sisters, Caroline, Evelyn, and Betty Jane. His death was
reported in the October 30, 1943 edition of the Camden
Courier-Post.
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