Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
ROTHROCK, John Bruce - Date of
birth
21 October 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Spokane County, Washington -
Hometown
Spokane County, Washington
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-769560 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
14th Troop Carrier Squadron,
61st Troop Carrier Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 March 1945 - Place of
death
Near Wesel, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| P | 3 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Henry W. Rothrock (father)
Bessie B. (Chittenden) Rothrock (mother)
Harry W. Rothrock (brother)
Howard A. Rothrock (brother)
Roy B. Rothrock (brother)
Edward Rothrock (brother)
Richard Rothrock (brother)
Clarence Rothrock (brother)
Robert S. Rothrock (brother)
Roana G. (Mittchel) Rothrock (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-93798 -
Data
Type: C-47A
Destination: Drop Zone A, near Wesel, Germany
Mission: Paratrooper drop
MACR: 13507
More information
As the planes exited the DZ they were to make a left bank to turn and head to their new base.As Cargill's ship went into the bank, his plane flew into what looked like a stream of tracer fire and was seen to start puffing smoke from arround the left wing.
Shortly after, there was smoke seen coming from the cockpit. Cargill's plane never came out of the bank and quickly lost altitude. The left wing hit a house as it neared the ground tearing it off and the rest of the ship hit the ground and exploded. There was evidence of 1 parachute coming out of the plane at about tree top level.
The parachute was schredded in the trees and all aboard the plane were killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com,
1930 Census
Photo source: Des Philippet, www.findagrave.com, Laura Manzanilla, www.ancestry.com