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Page History: 42-97872 IW-A Rosie's Sweat Box

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Page Revision: 2015/06/03 14:29

Recorded Missions ¶

1st Mission ¶

Munich - 07/11/1944 Rosie’s Sweat Box first mission took place on the 11th July 1944 and the target was the railroad marshalling yards and depot in Munich. This was to be the 17th mission for pilot 1st Lt. Woodville G. Rozzell and his crew and the first of three missions to Munich which they completed together as a crew. During this 1st mission Rosie's Sweat Box held a position in the High Box formation – A Wing. Although flak over the target was intense, it was inaccurate, and none of the Group suffered battle damage.

Further Missions ¶

Throughout her further 24 combat missions, Rosie’s Sweat Box was manned by eleven different crews undertaking raids in Germany, France and Belgium. On her 4th mission to the German rocket manufacturing facilities at Peenemunde on 18th July 1944. Col. Rogener as Air Commander, led the entire 1st Air Division, providing the Lead and Low Boxes of the 94th Combat Wing "A" formation. Within this Rosie's Sweat Box, 2nd Lt. McClung, acted as lead navigator within the Low Box Formation. The weather was clear and, as a result, visual bombing resulted in excellent results. Following the 9th mission to the synthetic oil production facilities at Merseburg on the 29th July 1944, bombardier Sgt Kilgour reported a problem with the bomb release. It was also reported that the aeroplane had suffered flak damage to the right wing and tail section on the 10th mission to Strasbourg on the 3rd August 1944. Although no enemy aircraft were reported, and no flak was encountered over the target, the Group had experienced some flak over Aachen on the return with seven ships received battle damage (one of them Rosie's Sweat Box). Flak was always a cause for concern. Comments within the Operation Day report following the 17th mission to the airdrome and bomber assembly plant at Schkeutidz on the 16th August 1944 reported both the pilot and navigator criticising the route chosen by the wing leader in the target area stating that navigation could have been better from the flak point of view.

Final Mission ¶

Siegfried Line fortifications and artillery at Groesbeck 9th September 1944 During take-off, Rosie's Sweatbox, piloted by Lt. F. E. Cook, failed to clear the hedge at the end of the main runway and crashed onto the Weldon road about 750 yards off the end of the runway at 0606 hours. Despite the devastating explosion of fragmentation bombs and aircraft fuel, the tail gunner, Cpl. W. J. Ambrogetti, was still alive when emergency crews arrived. Unfortunately, he died later that day. All of his crewmates were killed instantly. 2nd Lt Francis E. Cooke Pilot: Killed in action on his 2nd mission; 2nd Lt Paul H. Clark Co-pilot Killed in action on his 1st mission; 2nd Lt C.R. Werner Navigator: Killed in action on his 2nd mission; 2nd Lt Frank W. Jorgensen Bombardier: Killed in action on his 2nd mission; Cpl William E. Weston Radio Operator: Killed in action on his 2nd mission Cpl Wilford M. Dahlin Engineer / Top Turret: Killed in action on his 2nd mission; Sgt Joseph L. Page Jr. Ball Turret Gunner: Killed in action on his 30th mission; Cpl Walter J. Ambrogetti Tail Gunner: Killed in action on his 2nd mission; Cpl John R. Browning Waist Gunner Killed in action on his 2nd mission.