Billy Goolsby
Military | Captain | Pilot | 303rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 30 x combat missions. ETD
Awards: DFC, AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
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Harry James Rothrock
Military
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Uncle Harry J. Rothrock in England 1944
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TOP ROW: Cassell, Colvin, Cetin, Beavan, Geary BOTTOM ROW: Heuser, Rothrock, Yarbrough, Tribbett, Dobrowolski
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Scorchy II 42-97058 (359BS) BN-V 41st CBW-B (359BS) - Pilot LtCol R.H. Cole / CoPilot Capt B.M. Goolsby (Back L-R) 1Lt M.J. Walsh (N), LtCol R.H. Cole (P), Capt B.M. Goolsby (CP), Capt R.R. Bowen (B), 1Lt F.M. Lunde (N) (Front L-R) S/Sgt R.H. Lebeck (BT), T/Sgt C.W. Greenhalgh (R), S/Sgt F.Z. Cueto (WG), T/Sgt D. Bumgarner (E), T/Sgt H.J. Rothrock (WG), S/Sgt W.A. Strobel (TG)
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Ole George #42-31574 (358BS) VK-G 41st CBW High (358BS) - Pilot Maj R.H. Cole / CoPilot 1Lt B.M. Goolsby (Back L-R) 1Lt B.M. Goolsby (CP), Maj R.H. Cole (P), 2Lt F.M Lunde (N), 2Lt W.L. Hoover (B), 1Lt R.H. Halpin (TG-O) (Front L-R) T/Sgt D. Bumgarner (E), S/Sgt W. Chraniuk (BT), S/Sgt F.Z. Cueto (WG), S/Sgt H.J. Rothrock (WG), T/Sgt V.S. Kelley (R)
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Dear Mom #42-33168 (359BS) BN-M 41st CBW Low (359BS) - Pilot 1Lt B.M. Goolsby / CoPilot Capt L.M Schulstad (Back L-R) 2Lt V.T. Gorecki (TG-O), 2Lt W.L. Hoover (B), 1Lt B.M. Goolsby (P), 2Lt G.R. Schoner (N), Capt L.M. Schulstad (CP) (Front L-R) T/Sgt C.W. Greenhalgh (R), S/Sgt W. Chraniuk (BT), T/Sgt D. Bumgarner (E), S/Sgt F.Z. Cueto (WG), S/Sgt H.J. Rothrock (WG)
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B-17G 42-39769 Missmanooki (359BS) BN-P (crew assigned 359BS: Oct 1943 - photo: 20 Nov 1943). (Back L-R) 1Lt Billy M. Goolsby (P), 1Lt John N. Savage (CP)(P). 2Lt Paul E. Towberman (N), Capt Richard R. Bowen (B) (Front-L-R) T/Sgt Chester W. Greenhalgh (R), T/Sgt Donald Bumgarner (E), S/Sgt William Chraniuk (BTG), S/Sgt Harry J. Rothrock (LWG), S/Sgt Frank Z. Cueto (RWG), S/Sgt William A. Strobel (TG)
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Harry James Rothrock
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S/Sgt Harry J. Rothrock :- DFC award card. 303BG.
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S/Sgt Harry J. Rothrock :- Air medal award card. 303BG.
Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 33 x combat missions. Flew every mission bar one with 1st Lt. Billy M. Goolsby.
Awards: WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle stars).
Post War: After the war he returned home and opened an auto garage, he never married. He passed on Dec. 14, 1953. He was only 44.
Service
People
Units served with
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303rd Bomb Group
Group
The 303rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated on 3-Feb-1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon. They assembled at Gowen Field, Idaho on 11-February 1942 where it conducted flight training until 12-Jun-1942. The Group then moved to Alamogordo Field, New... -
359th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
Aircraft
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41-24605 Knock-out Dropper
B-17 Flying Fortress
Assigned to the 359BS/303BG [BN-R] Bangor 22-Sep-42; Molesworth 22-Oct-42; First 8th Air Force aircraft to complete 50, then 75 missions- 27-Mar-44; with M/Sgt Buford Pafford as crew chief; 1 Base Air Depot, Burtonwood 5-Jun-44; Reconstruction Finance... -
42-3029 Wallaroo
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Tulsa 13/1/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [VK-N] Homestead 5/3/43; Molesworth 9/4/43 (35missions). Missing in Action 14 January 1944 with Pilot Captain Merle R. Hungerford Jr, Co-pilot: Karl B. Arundale, Navigator: Joe B. Vogel, Bombardier: James F... -
42-31177 'LONESOME POLECAT'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 28/9/43; Gr Island 18/10/43; Memphis 24/10/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-L] Molesworth 18/11/43; Missing in Action Brux 12/9/44, with Dick Clemensen, Bombardier: Frank Stafford, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Gene McCrory, Waist... -
42-31213 Pistol Packin' Mama
B-17 Flying Fortress
(GH) Delivered Denver 4/10/43; Grand Island 19/10/43; Romulus 26/10/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-Z] Molesworth 18/11/43; Missing in Action Dessau 30/5/44 with Doug Van Weelden, Navigator: Bob Saumsiegle, Bombardier: Ron Vincent, Flight engineer/top... -
42-31314 'Scorchy'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 19/10/43; Gr Island 1/11/43; Memphis 2/11/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-E] Molesworth 18/11/43; ex-Frankfurt 11/2/44, with Howard Dahleen, Co-pilot: Chas Rice, Navigator: Russ Klingensmith, Bombardier: Ray Gauthier, Flight engineer... -
42-31386 'Woof' aka 'Sky Duster'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 28/10/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-W] Molesworth 18/1/44; Missing in Action Berlin (36m) 19/5/44 with Ernie Roth, Navigator: George Bays, Bombardier: Herman Moening, Radio Operator: Earl Buckingham, Ball turret gunner: Ralph... -
42-31483 'Bonnie B'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 10/11/43; Kearney 28/11/43; Bangor 5/12/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-B] Molesworth 1/1/44; 93 missions Missing in Action Stuttgart 5/9/44 with Bill Morgan, Co-pilot: John Parker, Navigator: Abe Wodinsky, Bombardier: Frank Destito,... -
42-31574 'OLE GEORGE'
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 20/11/43; Great Falls 24/11/43; Kearney 16/12/43; Fort Wayne 25/12/43; Wilmington 27/12/43; Presque Is 29/12/43; Assigned 358BS/303BG [VK-G] Molesworth 13/1/44; transferred 327BS/92BG Podington; Missing in Action Merzhausen 24/12/44,... -
42-31830 MARIE
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 24/12/43; Billings 27/12/43; Cheyenne 3/1/44; Kearney 7/1/44; Grenier 22/1/44; Assigned 359BS/303BG [BN-N] Molesworth 20/2/44; over Sottevast 20/4/44; with Clinton Moser, Co-pilot: Andrew Lux (Killed in Action); Missing in Action... -
42-3448
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 13/6/43; Scott Fd 9/8/43; force landed base with Ray Irby 11/8/43; Assigned 359BS/303BG Molesworth 18/10/43; 13m Missing in Action Oschersleben 11/1/44 with Henry Eich, Co-pilot: Bill Woodside, Navigator: Jim Carroll, Bombardier:...
Missions
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VIII Bomber Command 131
16 November 1943
This mission was directed at targets in Norway. It was composed of three elements. The first element was a combined force of 189 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 384BG (21); 303BG (20); 379BG (22); 351BG (20); 91BG (20); 381BG (22); 305BG ... -
VIII Bomber Command 138
26 November 1943
The industrial areas of Bremen, Germany are the target for this massive mission (largest to date) of 505 B-17s which included 14 B-17 Pathfinders from 482BG spread among the B-17 formations - 13 of these completed the mission and 7 were damaged. ... -
VIII Bomber Command 140
29 November 1943
This is another massive raid on Bremen, Germany by a force of 360 B-17s. The mission is composed of two elements. The first element is a combined force of 182 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 94BG (40); 95BG (20); 96BG (41); 100BG (20);... -
VIII Bomber Command 145
1 December 1943
This mission was directed at the industrial areas of Leverkusen and Solingen, Germany. The mission is composed of two elements. The first element is a combined force of 221 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG (27); 92BG (18); 303BG (17);... -
VIII Bomber Command 154
13 December 1943
The port areas at Bremen and Kiel, Germany are the primary targets for this mission. This is the first mission where more than 600 aircraft are despatched. This mission is comprised of 8 elements. The first element consists 182 B-17s from: 91BG (31);... -
VIII Bomber Command 159
20 December 1943
The port area of Bremen is the target for 546 heavy bombers. The total includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG. All 12 of these are effective on the target and 11 are damaged. The bomber gunners of this element claim 1-1-0 (this total included with... -
VIII Bomber Command 164
24 December 1943
This mission is directed at V-Weapon sites in the Pas-de-Calaise area of France. The attacks are made between 1330-1510hrs. The mission is composed of three elements. The first element is a force of 277 B-17s from 1st Bomb Division that included: 91BG ... -
VIII Bomber Command 169
30 December 1943
The port area and oil refineries at Ludwigshaven, Germany are the target for this massive attack of 710 heavy bombers. The despatch includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG, 11 of these are effective on the mission, 3 are damaged, and the bomber... -
8th Air Force 178
7 January 1944
The industrial areas of Ludwigshaven, Germany are the primary target for this mission. The formation has three elements. The bomber gunners of the entire force claim 30-6-17 of attacking German aircraft. ... -
8th Air Force 182
11 January 1944
Three aviation industry targets in Germany are bombed. The bomber force consists of 291 B-17s despatched from 1st Bomb Division in two elements, one element of 177 B-17s is despatched to Oschersleben, Germany as the primary target, the other 1BD...
Associated Place
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Molesworth
Military site : airfield
Molesworth was one of the early stations used by the Eighth Air Force in the UK, first occupied by the 15th Bomb Squadron’s Douglas Bostons in June 1942. Built in 1940 and extended and improved in 1942, Molesworth is most associated with the 303rd...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Born | Harrison County, Indiana, USA | 16 February 1909 |
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Son of William Walter and Mary Elizabeth [Newkirk] Rothrock. |
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| Enlisted | Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN | 29 October 1942 |
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Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana |
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| Based | Molesworth | 1943 – 1944 |
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Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. |
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| Discharged USAAF | 15 October 1945 | |
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Honourable discharge. |
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| Died | New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, USA | 14 December 1953 |
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(aged 44) |
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| Buried | New Albany National Cemetery New Albany, Floyd County, IN | 17 December 1953 |
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New Albany National Cemetery |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 12 May 2022 10:15:28 | Al_Skiff | Changes to service number, biography, awards, events, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
https://www.fold3.com/image/166334277 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 24 October 2020 19:55:09 | jmoore43 | Changes to biography and events |
| Sources | ||
Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 28 August 2020 04:52:30 | jmoore43 | Changes to middlename and events |
| Sources | ||
Added Born, Died and Buried events per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 3286241. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 March 2019 01:10:53 | Popeye72 | Changes to biography, aircraft associations and mission associations |
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Rothrock family tree. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 March 2019 04:02:03 | Popeye72 | Changes to mission associations |
| Sources | ||
303rd Bomb Group web page |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 March 2019 03:54:23 | Popeye72 | Changes to aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
303rd Bomb Group web page |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 March 2019 02:53:06 | Popeye72 | Changes to role |
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From the 303rd Bomb Group web page, he also my great-great uncle. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:12:24 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://303rdbg.com/rost-rs.html#R |
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