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name
RORIE, Jesse Bob Jr "Bob-Bob" - Date of
birth
14 July 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas -
Hometown
Kaufman County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
18215247 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
563rd Bombardment Squadron,
388th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 April 1945 - Place of
death
Steinhuder Meer, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 16 | 1 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Jesse B. Rorie (father)
Rosalene (Morrison) Rorie (mother)
John M. Rorie (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38869 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Paula Sue
Target: Kaltenkirchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 13723
More information
Sgt Jesse B. Rorie Jr. attended high school for 4 years and worked on a farm. He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Dallas, Texas on 24 November 1942.The airplane was rammed by a ME-109, hitting it between the left wing and the tail. It immediately broke in half with the forward section of the plane nosing done in a flat spin and the tail section floating down. The B-17 disintegrated. Eye witnesses stated that the enemy plane was not firing as it came in and they believed that the pilot was dead.
He is remembered at Oakland Memorial Park in Terrell, Texas.
The entire crew of ten was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Birth Certificate
Photo source: www.findagrave.com