Robert Rosenthal
MilitaryMichael P. Faley-100th Bomb Group Historian, www.100thbg.com
Biography
Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal joined the 100th Bomb Group in August 1943, and on his third mission, was the only pilot to safely return to base following the Munster raid on 10 October 1943. He was later appointed Squadron Commander of the 418th Bomb Squadron, and then the 350th Bomb Squadron. Rosenthal was shot down in France in September 1944, but evaded capture and returned to duty. He was also shot down over Berlin in February 1945 and was picked up by the Red Army. He again returned to duty, flying one further mission. In total, Rosenthal flew 52 combat missions, earning sixteen awards.
Before his enlistment, Rosenthal had worked as a lawyer for a large Manhattan law firm, which he returned to after the war. Still searching for justice, Rosenthal returned to Europe in 1946 to work on the US prosecution team during the Nuremberg trials. He met his wife, fellow trial judge Phyllis Heller, on the journey to Germany.
Robert Rosenthal died on April 20, 2007, aged 89 in White Plains, New York. Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal is played by American actor Nate Mann in the Masters of the Air mini-series.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 418th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 418th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-386339
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Navigator / Radar Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Rosie's riveters
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Royal Flush aka Harper's Ferry aka Aske's Angels
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Terrible termite
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 3 February 1945
- Date: 10 September 1944
- Date: 8 March 1944
- Date: 10 October 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
11 June 1917 | ||
Enlisted |
8 December 1941 | ||
Died |
20 April 2007 | ||
Other CO of 350th BS |
10 September 1944 | ||
Other CO of 418th BS |
3 February 1945 |
Revisions
Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.
Added an association to the 8th AF Mission #252 for 8 Mar 1944 per info in the “Blood and Fears” by Kevin Wilson on page 97.
Added an association to the 100th BG listed in the A/C #42-31504 description section.
Added a note about the book “A Wing and A Prayer” and Commander of 418 & 350 BS to the "Summary biography".
Added events per info at 100th BG website.
Source: https://100thbg.com/index.php?option=com_bombgrp&view=personnel&id=4475…
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.mcadams.org/fpdb/aux_units.asp