| LT ROBERT "ROSIE" ROSENTHAL |
P |
CPT |
3 FEB 45 BERLIN |
LEGENDARY 100TH AIRMAN
WHO FLEW 52 MISSIONS |
| LT WINIFRED LEWIS |
CP |
CPT |
8 MAR 44 BERLIN |
DFC w/OLC |
| LT RONALD C. BAILEY |
NAV |
CPT |
8 MAR 44 BERLIN |
DFC w/OLC |
| LT CLIFFORD MILBURN |
BOM |
CPT |
8 MAR 44 BERLIN |
DFC w/OLC |
| SGT MICHAEL BOCCUZZI |
ROG |
CPT |
8 MAR 44 BERLIN |
DFC w/OLC |
| SGT CLARENCE C. HALL |
TTE |
CPT |
8 MAR 44 BERLIN |
DFC w/OLC |
| SGT RAY H. ROBINSON |
BTG |
CPT |
8 MAR 44 BERLIN |
-- |
| SGT LOREN DARLING |
WG |
SWA |
10 OCT 43 MUNSTER |
PURPLE HEART |
| SGT JOHN SHAFFER |
WG |
SWA |
10 0CT 43 MUNSTER |
RETURNED TO STATES
SILVER STAR &
PURPLE HEART
FOR MUNSTER MISSION |
| SGT WILLIAM DeBLASIO |
TG |
CPT |
8 MAR 44 BERLIN |
DFC w/OLC |
Crew arrived 100th Bomb Group September 28, 1943. 418TH SQDN, CREW FLEW ROSIE'S RIVETERS
SGT'S JAMES F. MACK AND M.J. SHELDON REPLACED DARLING AND SCHAFFER.
Lt Col Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal Timeline:
| Jan 2 1942- Sept 6, 1942 |
AAFFS (Army Air Force Flight School)
|
Aviation Cadet: Pre-Flight, (Maxwell Field, Alabama-)
Pilot Training in PT-17-60 hours ( Primary Flying School, Douglas, Georgia 3/42-5/42) Pilot Training in BT-13-71 hours (BFS-Basic Flying School-Shaw Field, South Carolina-
5/42-7/42) Pilot Training in AT-6-9,17,71 hours (AFS-Advanced Flying School, Moody Field Georgia-
7/42-9/42) |
| Sept 6,1942-Feb 1, 1943 |
AAB Ft Meyers (Army Air Force Base Fort Meyers Florida) |
Pilot AT-6 Gunnery Instructor |
| Feb 1, 1943-May 1, 1943 |
AAB Sebring (Army Air Force Base Sebring, Florida) |
Student Officer- Transition Training in B-17, 140 hours |
| May 1, 1943-Jun 1, 1943 |
19th Bomb Group (H) Pyote, Texas
|
Pilot B-17 Combat Training 80 hours |
| Jun 1, 1943-Aug 15, 1943 |
19th Bomb Group (H) Dyersburg, Tenn
|
Pilot B-17 Combat Training 160 hours |
| Aug 15, 1943-Sept 15, 1943 |
Enroute ETOUSAAF |
(European Theater of Operations, United States Army Air Force) Pilot B-17-Enroute ETO via Aircraft. Departed US 1 Sept 1943, arrived ETO 6 Sept 43 |
| Sept 15, 1943-Mar 5, 1943 |
418th BS, 100th BG (H) ETOUSAAF (8AF) |
[European Theater of Operations, United States Army Air Force Pilot B-17-300 hours-Flight Commander (1st Pilot), 25 c/m (combat missions) 240 c/hours (combat hours). 15 Squadron Leads, 5 Element,Leads and 5 Wing Leads. |
| Mar 5, 1944-May 24, 1944 |
HQ 100th BG (H) ETOUSAAF (8AF)
|
Assistant Group Operations Officer (Lt Col Jack Kidd-Operations Officer). Pilot B-17, Air
Leader 5 c/m (combat missions, 45 c/hrs (combat hours), 5 Group Leads, Acting Command Pilot |
| May 24, 1944-Sept 11, 1944 |
350th BS, 100th BG (H) ETOUSAAF (8AF)
|
Squadron Commander, 190 hours, B-17 Air Leader, 17 c/m (combat missions) 120 c/hrs
(combat hours), 5 Group Leads, Acting Command 5 Wing Leads Pilot |
| Sept 11, 1944-Nov 1, 1944 |
-- |
Hospitalized at 91st General Hospital due to injuries sustained on Sept 10, 1944 mission to Nurnburg with Rosenthal as Command Pilot, crash landed in France and sustained a broken arm; internal injuries |
LEAD CREW SEPTEMBER 10, 1944, NURNBURG PFF A/C 42-97770
| MAJOR ROBERT "ROSIE" ROSENTHAL |
COMMAND PILOT |
| 1ST LT WILLIAM F. TERMINELLO, JR |
PILOT |
| 1ST LT MELVIN KODAS |
FORMATION OFFICER/TAIL GUNNER |
| 2ND LT STEWART J. GILLSON |
NAVIGATOR |
| CAPT. WOODROW W. MCGILL |
COMMAND NAVIGATOR |
| LT GREGORY MADDOX |
RADAR OPERATOR |
| 2ND LT FRANK RUBICK |
BOMBARDIER |
| S/SGT RUSSELL L. HEGER |
TOP TURRET ENGINEER |
| S/SGT LOUIS QUIJADA |
RADIO OPERATOR GUNNER |
| SGT THOMAS A. PALMER |
WAIST GUNNER |
| SGT GEORGE J. HARTOS |
WAIST GUNNER |
Nov 1, 1944-
Dec 1, 1944 |
HQ 13th Combat Wing, ETOUSAAF (8AF) |
Combat Wing Training Officer. In charge of all Wing training program |
| Dec 1, 1944-Feb 3, 1944 |
418th BS, 100th BG (H) ETOUSAAF (8AF) |
Squadron Commander, 55 hours, B-17 Air Leader 5 c/m (combat missions) 45 c/hrs
(combat hours) 1 Division Lead (Berlin Feb 3, 1945, shot down, picked up by Russians and returned to
England) Acting Command 4 Wing Leads, Pilot |
| Feb 3, 1945 |
BERLIN A/C#44 8379 |
Rosenthal bailed out with this crew. Rescued by Russians - toured Moscow.) Feb 3, 1945 Target: BERLIN Again attempts to return to Flight Operations - 100th Commander (Col Sutterlin) refused - Rosie had to quit flying combat at 52 missions |
| Mar 28, 1945-May 28, 1945 |
HQ 100th BG (H) ETOUSAAF (8AF) |
Group Training Officer. Set up policies for training of new crews, very little operational duty. |
| May 28, 1945-Jun 7, 1945 |
Returnee- |
Returned to USA via aircraft and arrived on Jun 7, 1945, leave, processing, and reassignment |
| Nov 30, 1945 |
-- |
Honorably Discharged |
3rd Air Division Lead Crew for Feb 3, 1945 Mission to Berlin:
| Maj Robert Rosenthal |
Command Pilot |
-- |
Landed in Russian Lines |
| Capt John Ernst |
Pilot |
POW |
Ernst's leg amputated in German Hospital
night of 3/2/45 & he was soon exchanged. |
| 1st Lt Arthur I.Jacobson |
CP |
POW |
(from Crew of Lt. G. Brown) |
| 1st Lt Stewart J. Gillison |
Command NAV |
EVA |
(from Crew of Lt W. Terminello) |
| 1st Lt Louis C. Chappel |
NAV |
KIA |
from Crew of Lt W.J. Wilson) |
| 1st Lt Robert H. Stropp |
Radar NAV |
-- |
Landed in Russian Lines |
| 1st Lt Eugene E. Lockhart |
BOM |
KIA |
(from the Crew of Lt Oren Hopkins) |
| T/Sgt Charles H. Webber |
ROG |
-- |
Landed in Russian Lines |
| T/Sgt Dugger C. West |
TTE |
POW |
|
| S/Sgt Warren Winters |
WG |
POW |
|
| S/Sgt G.A. Windisch |
TG |
-- |
Landed in Russian Lines |
See "CONTRAILS" p.131 & S.O.C. p.95. Also p.219/223 of "FLYING FORTRESS" by E.Jablonski.
EYEWITNESS REPORT from MACR #12046 "A/C #44 8379 was hit by flak, reported to be a ground rocket a few seconds before bombs away. A/C continued on run and dropped bombs. Fire and dense white smoke was seen in the fuselage and bomb bay, including the cockpit. Bomb bay doors closed and then reopened. Pilot opened his window and peeled gently off to the right, directing deputy leader to take over on VHF. A/C headed NE and flew level for a few moments while six members bailed out (3 appeared to come from waist or tail and 3 from bomb bay). There was a small explosion in #3 engine nacelle and the A/C headed down, burning and beginning to spin when last seen at 15/000 feet. Observers believe entire crew had an excellent chance to bail out."
DATE OF RANK FOR ROBERT ROSENTHAL:
| Sept 6, 1942 |
- Commissioned Aviation Cadet to 2nd Lieutenant 0-792349 |
| Sept 7, 1943 |
- Temp promotion 2nd Lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant 0-792349 |
| Feb.11, 1944 |
- Temp promotion 1st Lieutenant to Captain-0792349 |
| July 16, 1944 |
- Temp promotion from Captain to Major-0-792349 |
| Mar 21, 1945 |
- Temp promotion from Major to Lt Colonel-0-792349 |
Commanding Officer OF THE 350TH BS FROM LATE MAY 24, 1944 TO SEPT 10, 1944.
Commanding Officer OF THE 418TH BS FROM DEC 1, 1944 TO FEB 3, 1945.
Medals Awarded to Lt Col Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal
| Awards |
Mission |
Oak Leaf Cluster to Award |
| Distinguished Service Cross |
For Feb 3, 1945 Berlin Mission |
-- |
| Sliver Star |
Munster, Oct 10, 1943 |
Cluster to Silver Star (Oct 3, 1943-Sept 10, 1944) |
| Distinguished Flying Cross |
Completion of 25 missions 8 MAR 44 -Berlin |
Cluster to DFC (July 12, 1944 Munich/Aug 5, 1944 Magdeburg ) |
| Purple Heart |
Sept 10, 1944 Nurnburg |
Cluster to Purple Heart (Feb 3, 1945 Berlin-broke the same arm on both occasions) |
| Air Medal |
-- |
7 Oak Leaf Clusters |
| Distinguished Flying Cross (British) |
April 1946 |
-- |
| Croix de Guerre (French). |
Exceptional Service in Operations to Liberate France |
29 Jan 1945 |
| ETO Ribbon with 4 Battle Stars |
Air Offensive Europe, Normandy |
Northern France, Rhineland) |
| Presidential Unit Citation |
Berlin March 4,6, 8, 1944 |
-- |
LIST OF LT ROBERT ROSENTHAL'S 52 MISSIONS (mpf 2001 from Maj Rosenthal himself)
| 1. |
08/10/43 |
BREMEN |
| 2. |
09/10/43 |
MARIENBURG |
| 3. |
10/10/43 |
MUNSTER |
| 4. |
03/11/43 |
WILHELMSHAVEN |
| 5. |
07/11/43 |
DUREN |
| 6. |
13/11/43 |
BREMEN |
| 7. |
26/11/43 |
PARIS/BREMEN |
| 8. |
29/11/43 |
BREMEN |
| 9. |
30/11/43 |
SOLINGEN |
| 10. |
05/12/43 |
BORDEAUX |
| 11. |
24/12/43 |
NO-BALL |
| 12. |
31/12/43 |
PARIS |
| 13. |
21/01/44 |
NO-BALL |
| 14. |
30/01/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
| 15. |
03/02/44 |
WILHELMSHAVEN |
| 16. |
04/02/44 |
FRANKFURT |
| 17. |
05/02/44 |
VILLACOUBLAY |
| 18. |
10/02/44 |
BRUNSWICK |
| 19. |
20/02/44 |
SETTIN & POSEN |
| 20. |
21/02/44 |
ALHORN |
| 21. |
24/02/44 |
ROSTOCK |
| 22. |
25/02/44 |
REGENSBURG |
| 23. |
03/03/44 |
BERLIN (RECALL) |
| 24. |
04/03/44 |
BERLIN (RECALL) |
| 25. |
08/03/44 |
BERLIN (FINISHED TOUR) |
| 26. |
25/04/44 |
DIJON |
| 27. |
07/05/44 |
BERLIN |
| 28. |
12/05/44 |
BRUX, CZECH |
| 29. |
19/05/44 |
BERLIN |
| 30. |
30/05/44 |
TROYES |
| 31 |
05/06/44 |
BOULOGNE |
| 32 |
06/06/44 |
FRENCH COAST-D-DAY |
| 33 |
15/06/44 |
WILSTER |
| 34 |
18/06/44 |
BRUNSBUTTELKOOG |
| 35 |
22/06/44 |
PARIS |
| 36 |
06/07/44 |
NO-BALL |
| 37 |
12/07/44 |
MUNICH |
| 38 |
14/07/44 |
MAQUIS SUPPLY DROP, SOUTHERN FRANCE |
| 39 |
18/07/44 |
KIEL |
| 40. |
25/07/44 |
ST LO, GROUND SUPPORT |
| 41 |
02/08/44 |
LaFERE |
| 42 |
05/08/44 |
MAGDEBURG |
| 43 |
13/08/44 |
NANTES |
| 44 |
15/08/44 |
VENLO |
| 45 |
25/08/44 |
POLITZ |
| 46 |
05/09/44 |
STUTTGART |
| 47 |
10/09/44 |
NURNBURG* |
| 48 |
18/12/44 |
MAINZ |
| 49 |
30/12/44 |
KASSEL |
| 50 |
07/01/45 |
COLOGNE |
| 51 |
17/01/45 |
HAMBURG |
| 52 |
03/02/45 |
BERLIN |
Robert Rosenthal is the best known of the 100th veterans and one of the better known airmen in WWII. Fresh out of law school he enlisted in the U.S.Army, December 8th, 1941. Progressed rapidly through the Army Aviation pipe line and joined the 100th as a 1st pilot in August 1943, coming at the onset of some of the 100th more famous missions. "Rosie", as he is known to all 100th veterans, started with the 100th Oct 8, 1943 trip to Bremen. The 100th lost seven B-17s including the 351st’s Thomas Murphy in the famed Piccadily Lily. On the ninth of October, 43 the 100th went on the long mission to Marienburg and returned with no losses. On the 10th of October, 1943, "Rosie" and the 100th went to Munster. Only the Royal Flush with Rosenthal and his crew returned to Thorpe Abbotts. This mission as much as any other established the character of the 100th. There is a charismatic quality, earned many times over, about the 100th. No other Group is remembered with the reverence commonly accorded them. Robert Rosenthal, the 100th's beloved Rosie, earned a large part of this reverence. A Painting of the Royal Flush coming home is displayed at the American Military Cemetery, Cambridge, England. ..pw
MISSIONS OF SGT JAMES F. MACK (MPF 2002)
|
Nbr
|
Date
|
Target |
|
01
|
03/11/43
|
WILHELMSHAVEN |
|
02
|
07/11/43
|
DUREN |
|
03
|
13/11/43
|
BREMEN |
|
04
|
26/11/43
|
PARIS/BREMEN |
|
05
|
29/11/43
|
BREMEN |
|
06
|
30/11/43
|
SOLINGEN |
|
07
|
05/12/43
|
BORDEAUX |
|
08
|
24/12/45
|
NO-BALL |
|
09
|
31/12/43
|
PARIS |
|
10
|
21/01/44
|
NO-BALL |
|
11
|
30/01/44
|
BRUNSWICK |
|
12
|
03/02/44
|
WILHELMSHAVEN |
|
13
|
04/02/44
|
FRANKFURT |
|
14
|
05/02/44
|
VILLACOUBLAY |
|
15
|
10/02/44
|
BRUNSWICK |
|
16
|
20/02/44
|
SETTIN & POSEN |
|
17
|
21/02/44
|
BRUNSWICK/ALHORN |
|
18
|
24/02/44
|
ROSTOCK |
|
19
|
25/02/44
|
REGENSBURG |
|
20
|
03/03/44
|
BERLIN |
|
21
|
04/03/44
|
BERLIN |
|
22
|
08/03/44
|
BERLIN (ROSIE'S CREW FINISHES) |
|
23
|
22/03/44
|
BERLIN (FLEW WITH LT FERBRACHE) |
|
24
|
01/04/44
|
LUDWIGSHAVEN (RECALLED, FLEW WITH LT CHUCK HARRIS) |
|
25
|
08/04/44
|
QUACKENBRUCK, AF (FLEW WITH LT CHUCK HARRIS) |
|
NC
|
09/04/44
|
POSEN & MARIENBURG (RECALLED, FLEW WITH LT C. HARRIS) |
|
26
|
19/04/44
|
LIPPSTADT & WERL AF (FLEW WITH LT FORSYTHE CREW) |
|
27
|
20/04/44
|
MARQUENVILLE & FLOTTEMANVILLE |
Diary of S/Sgt. Jim Mack, sn# 17155954 (mpf 2002)
Date of Induction: November 10, 1942
Serial Number of Revolver: 567215
| May 30, 1943 |
Left U. S. from New York on Queen Mary. Very confusing and very Disappointed because I had no Furlough the boat was very crowded. 22, 000 men on board |
| June 4, 1943 |
Queen Mary docked at Fytle of Clyde, 18 Miles from Glasgow, Scotland. |
| June 6, 1943 |
Arrived at 13th RCD in Northern England along with 85 more gunners, we were all sent to different bomb groups eventually. |
| July 16, 1943 |
Arrived at 100th Bomb Group with 15 other Gunners. |
| Oct. 10, 1943 |
MUNSTER!!! Rosie’s Riveters return alone. Luck was really with them. Every other ship was shot down |
| Nov 3, 1943 |
Wilhelmshaven, Ger. 6:55 to 12:55. Heavy flak. First mission since Munster. Plenty scared |
| Nov 7, 1943 |
Duren, Germany, Little Flak, 48 degrees below zero |
| Nov 12, 1943 |
Practice Mission over North Atlantic |
| Nov 13, 1943 |
Bremen, Got this book today, just got back from mission to Bremen. Group behind us caught hell from fighter flak very heavy and accurate. |
| Nov 26, 1943 |
Paris, France. Very little flak, clouds over target |
| Nov 29, 1943 |
Bremen, Ger. (second time) 7:45am-4:47pm. No ships lost. |
| Nov 30, 1943 |
Solingen, Ger. 8:15am-2:30pm -60 degrees. Oxygen system froze. Mike and Junior passed out. |
| Dec 5, 1943 |
Bordeaux, France. 10 hrs in the air. |
| Dec 24, 1943 |
NO-BALL flew a new ship (504). Bombed the secret coast (rocket planes) |
| Dec 31, 1943 |
Paris, France Ship hit with flak, bombed airfield |
| Jan 21, 1944 |
NO-BALL Rocket coast again 12:05-15:10. Heavy flak, hit four times. We got prepared for crash landing came in O. K. thank god. |
| Jan 30, 1944 |
Brunswick, Ger. Bombed through clouds 4:30am-3:00pm |
| Feb 3, 1944 |
Wilhelmshaven Ger. accurate flak. We did violent evasive action 7:35am-2:30pm |
| Feb 4, 1944 |
Frankfurt, Ger. 8:05am-3:45pm We had flak from the coast into target. Very nerve wracking. Crossed Ruhr Valley, 3 holes in ship. 2 ships fell out of formation and were shot down by FW 190's |
| Feb 5, 1944 |
Paris, France Airport, hit the target |
| Feb 10, 1944 |
Brunswick, Ger. 6:45-4:10. Heavy Fighter opposition 30 FW's, 20 JU88's 2 Forts blew up when hit. Saw 15 forts go down. |
| Feb 20, 1944 |
Stettin & Posen (no note) |
| Feb 21, 1944 |
Brunswick & Alhorn Ger. 9:35-3:30. Good fighter support. Lost a fort over Holland. |
| Feb 24, 1944 |
Rostock, Aircraft factory in Poland 8:00-7:30. Very tired when I got back. attacked by 6 Ju88's |
| Feb 25, 1944 |
Regensburg, Ger. 8:15-6:15 demolished target (aircraft factory) saw the Alps & Danube River. (pretty country) lost 3 forts, 12 F. W. |
| Feb 26, 1944 |
Notre: of the 15 gunners that came to the 100th BG only 3 of us are left. Charles Mabey (finished up), Bill McClelland (wounded) and Me still hanging around. Of the 85 of us to come over, there is now 15 left. 6 have finished. I'm still sweating them out. 7 more missions left to make. |
| Mar 3, 1944 |
Target: BERLIN when I saw the target on the map my morale hit a new low. We were called back when within 40 miles of Berlin. 2 forts collided & blew up at 27, 000 feet. |
| Mar 4, 1944 |
BERLIN again. I really sweat this one out. we were recalled when we got over France (whew) |
| Mar 8, 1944 |
BERLIN, 11hrs in the air. This time we made it. Flak terrible, the fighters hit us after we left Holland. It was a very rough trip, our ship shot down 3 fighters that were making an attack. It was the last mission for my Crew and when we landed there was much rejoicing. We "Buzzed" the field twice at tree top level. |
| Mar 22, 1944 |
BERLIN, I flew with a different crew (Ferbrache). It was the hardest mission I was ever on. We flew right over the center of the city. The flak was awful. We were hit several times. 24 holes in the ship and some control cables were cut. The bomb bay doors wouldn't close and I crawled out in the bomb bay with the engineer and tried to crank them closed. The wind just about blew us both out of the ship. |
| Apr 1, 1944 |
Ludwigshaven, Ger. We started out and were recalled when we were 30 miles in France. Dropped bombs in the channel, flew with (Lt Harris) a good man. |
| Apr 8. 1944 |
Quackenbruck, Ger, Target an airfield. Mild Flak, No fighters, hit the target (note: Believe that S/Sgt Mack flew with the crew of Lt Chuck Harris on this mission, mpf) |
| Apr 9, 1944 |
Posen, flew with Harris again. Started for Poland & were called back. Couldn’t land because of fog. |
| Apr 19, 1944 |
Lippstadt & Werl, Ger, Target an airfield. Flew with Forsythe, darn good Crew. |
| Apr 20, 1944 |
Marquenville & Flottemanville. Last Mission, secret target in France, flak heavy and accurate. No 1 engine was hit. Thank god I've finished |
|
