Lt Edward S Rock was in his P-47 on a PHOTO RECON MIssion in the PO Valley area, KIA 21 Jan.1945. Edward had flown over 25 Combat Missions before this tragic accident.

P-47 carring a "K" Camera; Fairfield (In the United States, the primary aerial cameras were the K-series) P-47 photo recon aircraft with cameras added. Lt Rock managed to make it back to base after a FLAK hit, or more than once… but the fuel lines was ruptured. The P-47 was seem to explode mid-air and Lt Rock was seen to be slumped over/passed out (fumes from the fuel?)

"K 5069" is the VAL Dump Section of the PO Valley that he was photographing.

Edward Sheldon Rock University of Wisconcin, STOUT; Lieutenant Edward Sheldon Rock was born September 21, 1924. He graduated from Hudson High School in 1942. He attended the Stout Institute from September 1942 to February 1943. While at Stout he took courses toward a degree in Industrial Education, played in the band and orchestra and lived in Lynwood Hall. In April 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Forces and completed more than 25 flight missions. On January 21, 1945 he died when his plane crashed in the Po Valley of Italy. He was awarded the Purple Heart and an Air Medal for his service. He is buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/archives/heroes.cfm