Marion Cole Rogers was born 11 July 1917 in Ripley, Tippah, Mississippi. He was the son of Hillman Albert Rogers and Martha L Crawford. In 1940, he was working as a truck driver for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), working against soil erosion. His draft registration described him as six-foot one inch, 180 pounds, with a ruddy complexion, black hair, and gray eyes.

Marion enlisted 5 June 1942 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, as a Private. He served in the 547th Bomber Squadron, 394th Bomber Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force, in the European Theater of Operations. He completed fifteen bombing missions in four aircraft named “The Natural”, “Winsome Winn II”, “Flak House”, and Hell’s Belles II”. The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, England, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Belgium, France and Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe.

The “Hell’s Belles II” took off from Station 106 Grafton Underwood, at 11:45 AM on a bombing mission over Nantes. Their target was a blockade runner ship in the Loire River. However, the plane was fired upon by fighters and flak, and its engine caught on fire. Part of the plane landed in Meriais and the rest (wing and engine) landed near Fougeray. The plane was shot down over Notes, France, and only partially evacuated. Marion was the ball turret gunner and was killed in action. He died on 16 September 1943 at age 26. He had earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Pine Grove, Mississippi.

REFERENCES

United States Census, 1920, 1930, 1940.

United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.

US World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.

U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970.

https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonalWarRecord-R1_0.php?xID7uGt4=4748

https://photos.384thbombgroup.com/index.php?/category/1406

Findagrave.com

Marion C Rogers