Memorial

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Statement of T/Sgt Steele M. Robert, Engineer (TT)
"Our mission on March 19th was over a district South West of Berlin and our first target was to have been Ruhland, but the visibility was so poor that we were unable to drop any bombs, however, the enemy flak was quite heavy and finally we successful in hitting one of our wings and set it afire. The ship was maneuvered to take it out of formation so that it would not interfere with the other ships. When a wing is on fire it is hard to steer, and it was but a short time until it was out of control, and went into a spin. The navigator and myself were the only ones who were able to jump before it went into a spin. When a ship is in a spin, it is practically impossible to move. We left the ship at about 22000 feet and landed in enemy territory, and were held over night in a very small village, the name of which I do not know, about 25 miles S.W. of Ruhland at our rally point.
The next morning I was taken to the scene of the wreckage, apparently to identify the ship and the rest of the crew. I did not give definite information to the enemy, but satisfied myself in regards to the identity of my friends. In a small church yard the entire group of my buddies were laid out peacefully, as if asleep. They did not seem to be marred in any way, although this seemed almost impossible after such a fall."

T/Sgt Herbert J. Rotfeld is remembered at Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois with a memorial marker.