26 AUGUST 1944 â Norman Rogers and his crew of the B-24 âWham! Bam! Thank You, Mamâ had been on a bombing mission on the 24th and were shot down. This was the first mission they had flown. Rogers, a Rochester native and an Aquinas graduate, and seven of his crew were being taken to a POW camp by train and had to leave the train at Russelsheim Germany. As they were taken through the town a mob started following them, throwing rocks and bricks. At the center of the town, the crew, up against a brick wall, were beaten and some of them shot. Rogers and 5 of his crew were killed by the townspeople. This tragedy became the subject of the first war crimes trial held in Germany after the war. Visit the Society and see the full story. Thanks to Madeline Teremy for the pictures of her father, Norman Rogers. He was a true HOMETOWN HERO! In 1946 a war crimes tribunal led by Leon Jaworski convicted 7 townspeople of the massacre. 5 men were hanged and 2 women were sent to prison for life.
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