Edward S Rock was a fine Fighter Pilot. He was flying a P-47D fitted especially for him…KIA Lt Rock was on a PHOTO Mission, full bomb load though… a 12th AF Mission SCU (Service Command Unit) He was hit by flak near the RR Bridge and RR Bridge and dump at Vic (vicinity?) K-5069. The P-47 D (CAT III) which was 'fit' just for him. I believe we are looking at an America Mission but through the British Photo Unit. When I search for Photo Recce I end up with a British Military term. (Pronounced RiKKi, ….as in reconnoiter) The "K" means the camera…the K-20 (likely) and we mostly used the Fairchild K-20 Aerial Camera BUT I think the "(CAT III)" means there were also 2 side camera's. A common practice, but only described in the British Photo Units.

The Square is the "miles" of Target area assigned to Lt. Rock to photograph. It must have been very important as he did everything including dying, to get back to base with the photos in the cameras, crashing only in sight of the base (or on the runway itself……) He could have easily bailed out many times and places. Even the overwhelmingly strong fumes of gas did not stop him and he was seen to be passed out only seconds before the P-47 exploded on or almost on the runway.

Lt Rock is likely one of our true Heroes… and in the most amazing sense of the word….. choosing his destiny in the hope that he could make it. He needed seconds only. God Bless our Brave MEN.

Barbi Ennis Connolly PrincessBarbi_B25@msn.com