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Personal info

Full name
RODENBERGER, Richard Mabury
Date of birth
3 November 1916
Age
27
Place of birth
Missouri
Hometown
Salina, Saline County, Kansas

Military service

Service number
O-1013970
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Navigator
Unit
367th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 September 1944
Place of death
In the vicinity of Eberswalde, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 25 12

Immediate family

Members
William R. Rodenberger (father)
Jennie L. (Polson) Rodenberger (mother)
Miriam L Rodenberger (sister)
Mary L. (Gurley) Rodenberger (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31065
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Ruhland, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 8827

More information

The airplane was hit by flak. The pilot testified that he saw Lt Rodenberger in the nose section. The pilot blacked out for a short time, due to an explosion. That was the last time he saw the Navigator. He supposes Lt Rodenberger was still in the airplane when it blew up. The rest of the crew, nine men, survived and were taken prisoner.

He is remembered at Mount Hope Cemetery in Belleville, Illinois.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, WWII Memorial, Fold3, www.uiaa.org

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.uiaa.org, Peter Schouteten