"The Mighty Eighth"-- Rosie's Crew-- Part 4: At the Nurenburg Trials

After returning to England, Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal attempted to return to flight operations but was turned down.  Rosie had to quit flying after 52 missions.

After  the war, Rosenthal served as as assistant U.S. prosecutor at the Nurenburg Trials where he interrogated Hermann Goring, a high-ranking Nazi official responsible for many wartime atrocities.

In total, Rosenthal received 16 American awards, including the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.  he also received the the Distinguished Flying Cross from Great Britain and the Croix de Guerre from France.

--GreGen

"The Mighty Eighth" Rosie's Crew-- Part 3: A Terrifying 52nd Mission

On February 3, 1945, after volunteering for a third tour of duty, Rosie led the entire Third Air Division of 1,000 bombers on a mission to Berlin.  Rosie's plane was hit by flak as they approached the target.  Only after completing the target run did Rosie radio the second-in-command and instruct him to take over.

With dead and wounded aboard, Rosie's crippled bomber headed east toward Russian lines before encountering an uncontrolled spiral descent.  Rosie finally bailed out and was found by Russian troops.

Rosie and a few of his men wound up in Moscow.

--GreGen

"The Mighty Eighth"-- Rosie's Crew-- Part 2: Two Tours of Duty

On October 10, 1943, not long after joining the 100th, Rosie took part in a particularly perilous, ill-fated mission over Munster, Germany.  With two engines dead, the intercom and oxygen system non-functional, and with a large ragged hole in the right wing, Rosie's plane was the only plane from his group to make it back to base.

Rosie went on to volunteer and complete two tours of duty (50 missions).

During his second tour of duty, Rosenthal's plane was shot down over German-occupied France; he fractured his right arm, had multiple head contusions and other injuries.  He was rescued by members of the French Resistance and insisted on returning to duty as soon as his wounds were healed.

--GreGen

"The Mighty Eighth" "Rosie's Crew"-- Part 1: Volunteered the Day After Pearl Harbor

From the Paralyzed Veterans of America February 2018 calendar.

ROSIE'S CREW / THORPE ABBOTTS, 1943.

Painting of a bomber crew getting ready to take off.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert "Rosie" Rosenthall (June 11, 1917-April 20, 2007) enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 8, 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

In August 1943, he joined the 418th Squadron of the 100th Bombardment Group (BG), stationed at Thorpe Abbotts, East Anglia, England, as a pilot and aircraft commander of the B-17, Rosie's Riveters.

A Very Patriotic Fellow.  --GreGen