Mission: Siegfried Line, near Groesbeck, Holland
Date: 17th September 1944 (Sunday)
Unit: 614th Bomber Squadron, 401st Bomber Group, 8th Air force, Heavy
Type: Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
Serial: 42-97872 (“Rosie’s Sweat Box”)
Code: G35-VE
Base: Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, England
Location: Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, England
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Francis E. Cooke. 765229. U.S.A.A.F. Killed
Co-pilot: 2nd Lt. Paul H. Clark. 715717. U.S.A.A.F. Killed
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Charles R. Werner. 713258. U.S.A.A.F. Killed
Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Frank Warren Jorgensen. 720680. U.S.A.A.F. Killed
Engineer Top Turret Gunner: Cpl. Wilford M. Dahlin. 37558512. U.S.A.A.F. Killed
Radio Operator: Cpl. William E. Weston. 32528390. U.S.A.A.F. Killed
Ball Turret Gunner: Sgt. Joseph L. Page Jr. 38511779. U.S.A.A.F. Killed
Waist Gunner: Cpl. John Reagan Browning. 38474264. U.S.A.A.F. Killed
Tail Gunner: Cpl. Walter J. Ambrogetti. 39340378. U.S.A.A.F. Injured (1)
REASON FOR LOSS:
The aircraft was attempting to take off for a mission to bomb the Siegfried Line but failed to gain enough height to clear the hedge at the end of the runway and crashed on the Western Road, Deenethorpe
Cpl. Walter J. Ambrogetti survived the crash but died later the same day of his wounds.
Crash site of "Rosie's Sweat Box" (Courtesy King - Archives)
Some of the crew graves (courtesy Find-A-Grave)
Burial details:
2nd Lt. Francis E. Cooke was returned to the USA at the request of his family and is buried in Zion Cemetery, Fonda, Pocahontas County, Iowa. Francis was born on March 4th 1924 and entered the service on the 23rd February 1943 from Santa Ana Army Air Base as an aviation cadet
2nd Lt. Paul H. Clark was returned to the USA at the request of his family and is buried in Massachusetts.
Paul was born in 1923 and entered the service on the 29th December 1941 from Springfield, Massachusetts
2nd Lt. Charles R. Werner was returned to USA at the request of his family and is buried in Sun Prairie Cemetery, Sun Prairie, Dane County, Wisconsin
Son of Mr and Mrs Werner of Sun Prairie. Wisconsin. Charles was born on the 9th June 1921 in Dane County and entered the service in August 1941
2nd Lt. Frank Warren Jorgensen was returned to USA at the request of his family and is buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California. Section C, Site 622.
Frank was born on the 3rd April 1922
Cpl. Wilford M. Dahlin. Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. Plot E, Row 6, Grave 92
Born in 1922 Wilford entered the service in California. Awards: Purple Heart
Cpl. William E. Weston. Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. Plot E, Row 1, Grave 99
Born in 1920 William enlisted in New York on the 13th October 1942
Awards: Purple Heart
Sgt. Joseph L. Page Jr. Was returned to the USA at the request of his family and is buried in McDaniel Cemetery, Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas. Born on the 1st November 1924 Joseph entered the service on the 21st June 1943 from Little Rock, Arkansas
Cpl. John Reagan Browning was returned to USA at the request of his family and is buried in Rock Hill Cemetery, Brownsboro, Henderson County, Texas. John was born on the 23rd January 1923
Cpl. Walter J. Ambrogetti. Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. Plot F, Row 3, Grave 74
Walter was born on the 5th March 1923 in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He worked as a lumber handler before joining the service in September 24th 1943 from Oregon
Awards: Purple Heart
For further burial details:
Researched by A.R. Society & volunteer, researcher and specialist genealogist Kate Tame for relatives of this crew.
Acknowledgments: American Battle Monuments Commission. Find a Grave