Robert Burgess served in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier in the 734th Bomber Squadron, 453rd Bomber Group, Heavy, during World War II. On February 20, 1944, he was bombardier of B-24H #42-52139 "Briney Marlin" when the aircraft was attacked by fighters after bombs away on a bombing mission. The plane's bomb bay caught on fire. The surviving crew bailed out, but the FW-190's kept firing, possibly killing Lieutenant Burgess. He received the Purple Heart award. He is interred at the Ardennes American Cemetery in Neupre, Belgium.
