Anthony Francis Rose
MilitaryAssigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. 2 x missions with 401BG. Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-30855 'Ol' Massa' 8-May-44; shot down. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 4586
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME (1 x Battle Star).
Post war: Served in USAF during Korean conflict.
His account of mission:
'When returning from a Berlin raid, on the eighth of May, 1944, our fortress, 'Old Massa', suffered two direct flak hits. One of which severed the tail section off just forward of the tail wheel. The left ammo box was bent inward from the explosion, and I found myself trapped in my rear gun position. I was wounded, and lost consciousness. When I came-to, I felt the tail roll over once, then unconsciousness again. We fell, myself and the tail, 24,000 feet, and finally landed on a small guard hut, where the Germans found me. '
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: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14103271 / O-803232
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ol Massa
- Unit: 401st Bomb Group 613th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Chicago, Illinois, USA | 23 October 1919 | Son of James Rose. |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 8 May 1944 | Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III. |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
12 October 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Enlisted |
10 February 1947 | Enlisted USAF | |
|
Other Discharged USAF |
20 August 1953 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
River Forest, IL | 26 March 1999 | |
|
Based |
Deenethorpe | 8 May 1944 | Assigned to 613BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4586 / MACR 4586, NARA,
href="http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=1157">http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=1157> / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database