Ernest Thurston Rogers, Jr. Born 17 December 1916 to: Ernest T. Rogers, Sr. (b. 4 Apr1877 - d. 23 Dec 1931).

Graduated with Class of 1936 from Willie P. Mangum High School in North Carolina.

Attended University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1934-1936.

Enlisted in the Army Air Corps and spent two years on duty in the Canal Zone, achieving the rank of Sergeant before being selected for the Aviation Cadet Program.

Graduated from Aerial Navigation School and was commissioned (O-735928) a Second Lieutenant in the USAAF. Subsequently completed bombardier and flexible gunnery training.

January 1943, married Miss Luna Belle King of Wake County, NC.

Underwent B-29 aircraft transition and combat crew training at Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas.

He deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO), and was assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 314th Bomb Wing, 39th Bombardment Group (VH), 61st Bomb Squadron stationed at North Field on Guam in the Mariana Islands.

After numerous combat missions, he flew as a passenger aboard a Boeing B-29A Superfortress, nicknamed "Fickle Finger of Fate" serial #44-61663, tail code A-Square-16, enroute to Kwajalein and the United States.

Approximately two hours after take-off, the #1 engine caught fire and had to be feathered to extinguish the fire. The crew radioed they would return to Saipan. At approximately 0230 hours, on 5 October 1945, the aircraft crashed while landing in a strong cross-wind at Kobler Naval Air Field on Saipan.

Lt Rogers and 15 others did not survive the crash.

Ernest T Rogers