Elmer Eugene Rodenberg
Military ROLL OF HONOURTook part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 42-40716.
KNO on maintenance flight of B24 42-40716. Flight was to slow-time an engine. Shortly after takeoff Lt. Rodenberg called for an emergency landing with problems with engine #1. Plane crashed. 6KNO, 1RTD
Awards: DFC, AM, ADSM, ACM, EAME with two campaign stars
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-677705
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Yours Truly
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Kansas | 16 October 1919 | Halstead, Harvey County, Kansas |
|
Enlisted |
6 November 1941 | Ft. Riley, Kansas | |
|
Died |
13 September 1943 | Died Non Battle on a maintenance test flight | |
|
Buried |
Halstead Cemetery Halstead, Harvey County, Kansas |
Revisions
Added to awards and bio section. Lt. Rodenberg received the DFC for the 1 August 1943 Ploesti raid. He received his only Air Medal (posthumously), which was awarded under a General Order in December 1943. As his death was listed as Died Non Battle, he did not receive a Purple Heart. His NARA files reflect one DFC and one AM regardless of the typed in data on Find a Grave.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34691086/elmer-eugene-rodenberg
AccidentReports.com, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 280 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia