Reynold Rosolina (far right of front row) and “The Bomber Boys” while he was completing Turret Gunnery training at Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho
Radio Operator Charts and handwritten notes of Reynold Rosolina of the Paul Graves crew
Chart of networked waypoints from the bases in the US interior through to Presque Island.
Handwritten notes on the back of chart
Ferry Log pages for flight from Lincoln, Neb., to Grenier Field. |
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Grenier Field map and pamphlet Rosolina received during the crew’s path to England
Distinguished Flying Cross
Reynold Rosolina is presented his Distinguished Flying Cross medal by Col. C.W. Burns at Bury St. Edmunds, 5th Combat Wing, UK on 23 March 1945.
From Rosolina’s journal:
17th Mission Jan. 2nd 1945
Flying Time: 6hrs. 45min.
(Target) Siegfried Line (St. Wendel)
Supporting front line troops. Hit German troops–comm. supplies. Flak-none.
6 bombs jammed in bomb bay–arming vanes were spinning off of two bombs. We were at a high altitude with bomb bay doors opened. I was the closest to the bomb bay–I put on my parachute and grabbed an oxygen bottle–went in the bomb bay and held the arming vanes until we were out of Germany. I was very scared–it was cold–temp was -37 degrees–we finally got the bomb bay doors closed. By that time my hands were numb from the cold air. My eyes had icicles on them. The bombardier and armorer relieved me–they got the bombs safe and we headed for the North Sea to drop 6 bombs. We were very lucky.
Lucky Bastards Club certificate for Reynold Rosolina
Provided by Michael Rosolina / family of Reynold Rosolina