Memorial

More information

John D. Rose graduated from Tivy High School and attended Schreiner Institute and Texas A & M College and withdrew from the latter school to enter the ranching business.
He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in November 1942. As a cadet he received training at Lemoore Army Air Base in Lemoore, California. He completed a course at the Santa Ana, California was sent to Claybourne Flying Academy in Wickenburg, Arizona. He graduated from the Douglas Army Air Force Pilot School in Douglas, Arizona, on 3 November 1943.

According to a statement of an eyewitness, 2nd Lt Arthur S. Harris, the airplane followed another plane out of formation about one minute after bombs away. Both airplanes turned to the left. The no. 3 engine was feathered.

Statement of a surviving crew member, T/Sgt Frank Gnasdowski: "We got through the flak allright but were hit by fighters on the turn for home. After noticing the ship losing altitude I tried to call the crew but the phones were knocked out."

Nine crew members were killed, one was taken prisoner.
Lt Rose is remembered at the Creek Cemetery in Austonio, Houston County, Texas with a memorial marker.

The picture was taken in 1936.