July 24, 1921 (Bronx, NY) – April 7, 1945; 23 years old; unmarried
Last local address: 9 Quintard Street, South Norwalk
Service number: O-2063160
389TH BOMBER GROUP (HEAVY); 567TH BOMBER SQUADRON
Awarded the Air Medal three times and the Purple Heart Medal. In the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.
Evander Childs High School, Bronx, Class of ‘39
Plane information:
Serial number: 44-49254
Type: B-24LHO
Nickname: The Palace of Dallas
Destination: Düneberg, Germany
MACR: 14113
567th Bombardment Squadron 389th Bombardment Group 8th Air Force (RAF Hethel Airfield) Station USAAF-114 Norfolk England
Rammed April 7, 1945 By German Messerschmitt BF 109G-6 West of Soltau Germany while on a mission on The Ammunition Factory at Duneberg Germany. Pilot of BF 109G-6 flown by Uffz. Heinrich Rosner of Sonderkommande Elbe. (8) Crew Were Killed. (2) Crew bailed and were captured and became POWs.
USAAF MACR#: 14113
Date Lost: 7-Apr-45
Serial Number: 44-49254
Aircraft Model B-24 LHO
Aircraft Name: THE PALACE OF DALLAS
Location: Northern Germany
Cause: “Elbe” Ram Fighter 11 KIA, 2 POW
The most notable “Elbe” pilot was Unteroffizer Heinrich Rosner of III/JG.102, who brought down two B-24’s of the 389th Bomb Group, he rammed the B-24 “Palace of Dallas” flown by the group commander Colonel John B. Herboth, this collided with the B-24 led by the deputy group commander Major Tolleson. Two crew members managed to bail out as both bombers went down.
Rosner also managed to bail out although he passed out in harness. When he woke up, he had landed among farm buildings and after receiving medical aid, returned to base at Stendal. He was one of 29 Elbe pilots of the operation that reported back, while many others lay Dead or Wounded in hospitals in Northern Germany.
Lt Contra is buried in Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neupre, Belgium; Section B, Row 32, Grave 32.
