Staff Sergeant Willie Rogers (no middle name or initial), Army serial number 14137225, was born near Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina on February 10, 1922. He was the youngest of five children of Joseph R. 'Joe' Rogers (8 Jul 1877 – 20 Jan 1924), who was born at Duplin County, North Carolina; and Daisy (Williams) Rogers Mitchell (10 Aug 1884 – 2 Feb 1961), who was born in North Carolina. His parents married about 1904. His father, a farmer, died of meningitis at Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1924. His mother married his stepfather, Walter Alvin Mitchell (25 Feb 1895 – 29 Oct 1961), at Goldsboro, North Carolina on January 16, 1933. By 1940 the family home was at 208 South Slocumb Street, Goldsboro, North Carolina. His stepfather was a carpenter in the building construction business.

He completed four years of high school and worked as a carpenter. He registered for the draft at Goldsboro, North Carolina on June 30, 1942. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighed 148 pounds, and had hazel eyes and red hair. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Raleigh, North Carolina, on August 27, 1942.

He completed Army Air Forces aerial gunnery training, and was assigned as ball turret gunner on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Raymond F. Jackson. The Jackson crew completed operational training in the States, and was assigned to the 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by July 24, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is the Lt Jackson's crew roster on September 30, 1944:

B-17G 43-38037 – 836th Bomb Squadron

• Jackson, Raymond F – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA

• Sherrill, Theodore I – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA

• Franke Jr, John H – 2/Lt – Navigator – POW

• Plevak, Edward C – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA

• Nelson, Laverne W – S/Sgt – Engineer – KIA

• Michael, George R – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – POW

• Rogers, Willie – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA

• Ballard, Bennie L – Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA

• Harcq Jr, Benjamin W – S/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA

S/Sgt Rogers and six of his crewmates were killed in action on September 30, 1944, when their aircraft, B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', collided with B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body' after bombs away over Bielefeld, Germany. Apparently B-17G 43-38154 'Heavenly Body', flying in the number 7 position of the Low Squadron, was caught in prop wash turbulence during the descending turn away from the target. This aircraft, piloted by Lt Harold E. Oesch, flipped over on its back and collided with B-17G 43-38037 'Liberty Belle', piloted by Lt Jackson, who was flying in the number 9 position. (Note: This is based on an eyewitness account, and differs from the report in MACR 9422.) 'Liberty Belle' lost its outboard starboard wing, and both ships went down. Two men on Lt Jackson's crew survived. Only the bombardier on Lt Oesch's crew, Lt Zalneraitis, survived.

His remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Willow Dale Cemetery, Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1949. He is buried in Annex A, Block A, Lot 31.

Sources:

1. 487th Bomb Group Association

2. 1880 US Census; North Carolina; Duplin County; Wolfscrape Township. Rogers, John. 2 Jun 1880 (John H. Rogers, his father's father)

3. 1900 US Census; North Carolina; Wayne County; Brogden Township; Mount Olive. Rhodgers, John H [sic]. 29 Jun 1900 (John H. Rogers, his father's father)

4. 1900 US Census; North Carolina; Wayne County; Indian Springs Township. Williams, Thomas. 12 Jun 1900 (Thomas J. Williams Sr, his mother's father)

5. 1910 US Census; North Carolina; Wayne County; Brogden Township. Rogers, Joe. 26 Apr 1910 (Joseph R. Rogers, his father)

6. 1920 US Census; North Carolina; Wayne County; Brogden Township. Rogers, Joe [surname transcribed Rogue by ancestry.com]. 9 Feb 1920 (Joseph R. Rogers, his father)

7. 1940 US Census; North Carolina; Wayne County; Goldsboro Township; Goldsboro; Ward 4; 208 South Slocumb Street. Mitchell, W A. 22 Apr 1940 (Walter Alvin Mitchell, his stepfather)

8. Ancestry.com: Daisy Williams (10 Aug 1884 – 2 Feb 1961) in Francis family Tree

9. Cemetery records and grave marker of Willie Rogers at Willow Dale Cemetery, 306 East Elm Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530

10. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004

11. Enlistment Record of Willie Rogers

12. North Carolina Deaths, 1906–1930: Joe R. Rogers (his father) died of meningitis at Goldsboro Hospital, Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina on 20 Jan 1924; father's name: John Rogers; mother's maiden name: Martha Walker

13. North Carolina Deaths, 1931–1994: Daisy Rogers Mitchell (his mother) died at Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina on 2 Feb 1961; her father's name: Tom Williams; her spouse's name: Walter Mitchell

14. North Carolina Marriages, 1759–1979: Walter Mitchell, age 37, married Mrs. Daisy Rogers, age 48, at Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina on 16 Jan 1933. (his stepfather and mother)

15. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 9422 (Raymond F. Jackson crew, B-17G 43-38037)

16. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 9423 (Harold E. Oesch crew, B-17G 43-38154)

17. U.S. Headstone Applications for U.S. Military Veterans, 1925–1949 (ancestry.com)

18. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945

19. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946

20. U.S. World War II Draft Cards, Young Men, 1940–1947 (ancestry.com)

Research by:

Paul Webber

Find A Grave member ID 47577572

Last edited 25 Mar 2024