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Story
August 5, 1942
The Keesler Field News
Keesler Army Airfield, Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi
What is this article about?
Corporal Edgar L. Rogers, Jr., a 22-year-old Keesler Field graduate from Murfreesboro, Tenn., is missing in action after his B-17 Flying Fortress bombed and likely sank a Japanese aircraft carrier in Alaskan waters on June 4, 1942, before being downed by Japanese pursuit planes.
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Keesler Grad Missing
After Helping Sink Jap Ship
By PVT. LLOYD H. WILKINS
Corp. Edgar L. Rogers, Jr., a 22-year-old bomber crew chief who once jerked sodas in his home-town's drugstore to help finance a college education before he became a member of Keesler Field's first Airplane Mechanics School class, is the first known graduate of the school to be reported as missing in action.
The young Murfreesboro, Tenn., soldier, it was learned here this week, apparently was lost in Alaskan waters early in June when his B-17 Flying Fortress was downed by three Japanese pursuit ships only after it had bombed and apparently sunk a Japanese aircraft carrier.
Corporal Rogers, former member of the 307th Tech. Sc. Sq. was trained as an airplane mechanic at Keesler Field and was graduated with the first class on Feb. 27. Later he received additional training at Paterson, N. J. before being transferred to duty as a corporal with a bombing squadron at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. In May he was sent to Alaska.
CORP. EDGAR L. ROGERS, JR.
Maj. Eugene Terry Yarbrough, in charge of location of missing airships and crews from Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Alaska, tells the story of what happened after Tommy Mainsfield and his crew believed they were shot down, but no one knows for sure. Tommy Mainsfield undoubtedly got the carrier before they got him, as the last time he was seen he was headed for the carrier and Jack Marksfield said they couldn't have missed at that altitude.
"There were three pursuit planes after Tommy Mainsfield and his crew. They were in a Flying Fortress B-17. He (Corporal Rogers) was crew chief, or engineer. He is the man responsible for the flying condition of the airplane. He must have done a good job, as the ship had not been out of flying commission a day since they got up there. It takes a good crew chief to do that.
"They all got it on June 4, about 5:30 p.m., Alaskan War Time. He and one other ship of the same type spotted an aircraft carrier and went after it.
"Capt. Jack Marks was in the other ship. Jack pulled up in the clouds and dropped his eggs; one was a direct hit. The last time he saw Tommy Mainsfield he was headed for the carrier and Jack said they couldn't have missed at that altitude.
"There were three pursuit planes after Tommy Mainsfield and his crew. They were in a Flying Fortress B-17. He (Corporal Rogers) was crew chief, or engineer. He is the man responsible for the flying condition of the airplane. He must have done a good job, as the ship had not been out of flying commission a day since they got up there. It takes a good crew chief to do that.
OFFICER TELLS STORY
"Corp. Eggar Leland Rogers Jr. was flying with Captain (Thomas) Mainsfield, West Pointer, out of there two years ago this month," Major Yarbrough reported in a letter received by Corporal Rogers' parents in Murfreesboro.
"I knew him (Mainsfield) real well. He was an excellent pilot. His dad got killed in the last war and he was just aching to get a crack at them in his one. He did, too.
"WE HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT IT IS WITHOUT DOUBT A FACT THAT ALL ALABAMA MEMBERS WERE LOST IN ACTION."
But back home in Murfreesboro, where Corporal Rogers was known as "Bugger" and as a "friendly, well-liked, personable young fellow who didn't mind working," his parents still are hoping that their soldier-son may be alive.
Keesler Grad Missing
After Helping Sink Jap Ship
By PVT. LLOYD H. WILKINS
Corp. Edgar L. Rogers, Jr., a 22-year-old bomber crew chief who once jerked sodas in his home-town's drugstore to help finance a college education before he became a member of Keesler Field's first Airplane Mechanics School class, is the first known graduate of the school to be reported as missing in action.
The young Murfreesboro, Tenn., soldier, it was learned here this week, apparently was lost in Alaskan waters early in June when his B-17 Flying Fortress was downed by three Japanese pursuit ships only after it had bombed and apparently sunk a Japanese aircraft carrier.
Corporal Rogers, former member of the 307th Tech. Sc. Sq. was trained as an airplane mechanic at Keesler Field and was graduated with the first class on Feb. 27. Later he received additional training at Paterson, N. J. before being transferred to duty as a corporal with a bombing squadron at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. In May he was sent to Alaska.
CORP. EDGAR L. ROGERS, JR.
Maj. Eugene Terry Yarbrough, in charge of location of missing airships and crews from Elmendorf Field, Anchorage, Alaska, tells the story of what happened after Tommy Mainsfield and his crew believed they were shot down, but no one knows for sure. Tommy Mainsfield undoubtedly got the carrier before they got him, as the last time he was seen he was headed for the carrier and Jack Marksfield said they couldn't have missed at that altitude.
"There were three pursuit planes after Tommy Mainsfield and his crew. They were in a Flying Fortress B-17. He (Corporal Rogers) was crew chief, or engineer. He is the man responsible for the flying condition of the airplane. He must have done a good job, as the ship had not been out of flying commission a day since they got up there. It takes a good crew chief to do that.
"They all got it on June 4, about 5:30 p.m., Alaskan War Time. He and one other ship of the same type spotted an aircraft carrier and went after it.
"Capt. Jack Marks was in the other ship. Jack pulled up in the clouds and dropped his eggs; one was a direct hit. The last time he saw Tommy Mainsfield he was headed for the carrier and Jack said they couldn't have missed at that altitude.
"There were three pursuit planes after Tommy Mainsfield and his crew. They were in a Flying Fortress B-17. He (Corporal Rogers) was crew chief, or engineer. He is the man responsible for the flying condition of the airplane. He must have done a good job, as the ship had not been out of flying commission a day since they got up there. It takes a good crew chief to do that.
OFFICER TELLS STORY
"Corp. Eggar Leland Rogers Jr. was flying with Captain (Thomas) Mainsfield, West Pointer, out of there two years ago this month," Major Yarbrough reported in a letter received by Corporal Rogers' parents in Murfreesboro.
"I knew him (Mainsfield) real well. He was an excellent pilot. His dad got killed in the last war and he was just aching to get a crack at them in his one. He did, too.
"WE HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT IT IS WITHOUT DOUBT A FACT THAT ALL ALABAMA MEMBERS WERE LOST IN ACTION."
But back home in Murfreesboro, where Corporal Rogers was known as "Bugger" and as a "friendly, well-liked, personable young fellow who didn't mind working," his parents still are hoping that their soldier-son may be alive.
What sub-type of article is it?
Military Action
Heroic Act
Tragedy
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Misfortune
Tragedy
What keywords are associated?
Missing In Action
Wwii Bombing
Alaska
B 17
Japanese Carrier
Keesler Field
What entities or persons were involved?
Edgar L. Rogers, Jr.
Thomas Mainsfield
Jack Marks
Eugene Terry Yarbrough
Where did it happen?
Alaskan Waters
Story Details
Key Persons
Edgar L. Rogers, Jr.
Thomas Mainsfield
Jack Marks
Eugene Terry Yarbrough
Location
Alaskan Waters
Event Date
June 4, Alaskan War Time
Story Details
Corporal Edgar L. Rogers, Jr., served as crew chief on a B-17 Flying Fortress that, along with another bomber, attacked and likely sank a Japanese aircraft carrier in Alaskan waters on June 4. The plane was then downed by three Japanese pursuit ships, and Rogers is missing in action.