Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

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"Rosie's Sweat Box" Boeing B-17G 42-97872 2nd Lt. Cooke crew loss

Operation: 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. USAAF Killed

Co-pilot: 2nd Lt. Paul H. Clark. 715717. USAAF Killed

Navigator: 2nd Lt. Charles R. Werner. 713258. USAAF Killed

Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Frank Warren Jorgensen. 720680. USAAF Killed

Engineer Top Turret Gunner: Cpl. Wilford M. Dahlin. 37558512. USAAF Killed

Radio Operator: Cpl. William E. Weston. 32528390. USAAF Killed

Ball Turret Gunner: Sgt. Joseph L. Page Jr. 38511779. USAAF Killed

Waist Gunner: Cpl. John Reagan Browning. 38474264. USAAF Killed

Tail Gunner: Cpl. Walter J. Ambrogetti. 39340378. USAAF 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

(1) Cpl. Walter J. Ambrogetti survived the crash but died later the same day of his wounds. 

Crash site of "Rosie's Sweat Box" (courtesy Fold 3)

Above left: 'Rosies Sweat Box - taken 6th May 1944 Right: Jacket worn by crew - taken 28th June 1944

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

Researched by Aircrew Remembered, researcher and specialist genealogist Kate Tame for relatives of this crew. Acknowledgments: American Battle Monuments Commission. Find a Grave website.

Complete list of USAAF Archive Reports

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