Clarence H Rothrock

Military

Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 42-40373.



On August 16, 1943, was shot down in 'Natchez-Belle' 42-40373 on a mission to Foggia, IT while temporarily assigned to the 9th AAC. Four minutes after the target, the plane was attacked by FW 190s. The plane caught fire while gunners Smith, Rothrock, Vogel and Slattery together shot down 9 enemy aircraft. Finally pilot Shannon had to give the bail out order. 7 crew members became Prisoner of War (POW)s and 3 were Killed in Action (KIA). Rothrock escaped from Prisoner of War (POW) camp, evaded and returned.

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

44th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for takeoff at Shipdham in 1943. The 'Flying Eight-Ball' emblem of the 68th Bomb Squadron is visible on the nose of the leading aircraft. Image stamped with field press censor, 1943. Press Agency photograph- original printed caption has been removed.

68th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

42-40373

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Natchez Belle
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Capitalized the words in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

Ploesti Sortie Reports, 44th Bomb Group

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties by Will Lundy pp. 112-4 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia