Tomlinson Square
| Square Location | (click on link for map) |
Second Lieutenant Robert W. Tomilnson served in the in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. A native of Dearborn Street and Cabot Farm in Salem, he was born on November 10th, 1923 to Helen and Rubin Tomilnson. After graduating from Salem High School in 1941, his friends had tried to convince him to join the Navy. However, due to his love for flying, he trained in Louisiana for two years before traveling to England in 1943. He was officially commissioned a Second Lieutenant on April 15th, 1944. There, he served with the 566th Bomb Squadron of the 389th Bomb Group and was responsible for piloting B-24 Liberators. While on a mission to bomb an explosives plant over Geesthacht, Germany on April 7th, 1945, his aircraft (B-24 #44-49533) was attacked by an Messerschmitt Bf 109. His plane went down and tragically he lost his life. For his bravery, he was awarded the Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart. He now rests at Arden National Flyers Cemetary in Belgium.
His square was approved by the City Council on September 28th, 2017 and is located at the corner of Walter and Orne streets, dedicated in his honor.