LAURENCE FRANK “MICKEY” RORER
1917-1997
MILITARY SERVICE
Company E, 8th Infantry, 1941-1942
February, 1941: drafted into the Army
March, 1941: Co. E, 8th Infantry, Fort Benning
July, 1941: Completed course on engine and chassis mechanics with score of 96
Rank: S/Sgt Motor Pool
April, 1942: accepted as aviation cadet; spent next six months “unassigned” as Technician 4th
grade (temporary) at Camp Gordon waiting for the start of the aviation class
October, 1942: Preflight School at Santa Ana Army Air Base, California
Preflight School curriculum and examinations
Next level: Primary School at Cal Aero Flight Academy, Ontario, California
Daily schedule at Primary School, Cal Aero Flight Academy, Ontario, California
Next level: Basic School at Polaris Academy, Lancaster California
Next level: April, 1943: Advanced School, fighter planes, Luke Field, Phoenix, Arizona
Mickey earns his wings
June, 1943: 2nd Lieutenant; assigned to Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas; trained to be a
flight instructor
August, 1943: assigned to Gardner Field, California as flight instructor.
March, 1944: volunteered to learn to fly a “new plane” which turned out to be the B-29
Arrived Smyrna, Tennessee; B-29 was not ready. Was not reassigned to fly fighters, for which he
trained, or to return to job as flight instructor; was assigned to fly B-24’s. Sorely disappointed;
did not expend any effort in B-24 training.
August, 1944: flew from Mitchell Field to Dow Field to Manduria, Italy as a co-pilot
This crew flew from the US to Manduria: James W. Buck, Laurence F. Rorer, Marshall M. Barton, Seymour
Denbaum
Norman E. Griffin, Sterling H. Miller, Edward J. Carter, UrpoTikkanen, Bernard Mazer, William Polakoff
James Buck, Seymour Denbaum, L. F. “Mickey” Rorer, Marshall Barton
September, 1944: flew first mission over Ora Railroad Bridge, Italy, as co-pilot
October, 1944: flew second mission; pilot let him take controls and immediately recommended
he be made pilot
January, 1945: promoted to 1st Lieutenant
Mickey on flak leave on the Italian coast
Lts. Rorer, Seymour Denbaum, James W. Buck and Marshall M. Barton outside their quarters
The officers hired an Italian man to construct block walls for their quarters
Molto Buono, Saturday, March 24, 1945
Bomb Blast, March 25, 1945
This story also appeared in the Stars and Stripes, March 24, 1945, the Trenton Times and The Sortie, Vol. XI
Crew of the damaged plane
Miles Stephenson
Mickey Rorer in middle
Mickey Rorer, Stanley Duch and John Bigbee
Mickey Rorer
Upper right: Ambrose “Mouse” Maushart; bottom: Mickey Rorer
Quarters in Manduria; Mickey on left
March, 1945: appointed Flight Commander and temporary Operations Officer until new
Operations Officer could be trained; awarded Distinguished Flying Cross
Receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross
Flying in formation
Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for a combination of acts including getting the squadron reorganized in
order to complete their mission after the lead plane was shot down over Florisdorf Marshalling Yards,
Vienna.
April, 1945: promoted to Captain
Flak filled skies
Mickey's plane was “Penny” named for the daughter of the chief mechanic
Active duty pilots had to pass this exam
Check ride before returning to the States
Record of missions flown; the crew was given credit for 2 missions when the target was anticipated to be
particularly dangerous
The war in Europe was over but the war with Japan continued. This was Mickey’s qualifications used to
determine his next assignment in the fight with Japan.
June, 1945: returned to U.S. after flying fifty-six missions; assigned to Minter Field, California
to fly B-29’s in invasion of Japan
August, 1945: Japan surrendered
January, 1946: honorably discharged at Roswell AAB, New Mexico
Awards earned in the Air Corps
Summary of Mickey's Air Corps service
Submitted June, 2008 by Mickey’s
daughter:
Louise Rorer Rosett
Lrosett@mindspring.com
1005 Stagecoach Road SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123