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 into the first class of aviation cadets who were not required to be college graduates;
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
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Preflight School curriculum and examinations
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Next level: Primary School at Cal Aero Flight Academy, Ontario, California
Daily schedule at Primary School, Cal Aero Flight Academy, Ontario, California
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Next level: Basic School at Polaris Academy, Lancaster California
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Next level: April, 1943: Advanced School, fighter planes, Luke Field, Phoenix, Arizona
Mickey earns his wings
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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
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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
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James Buck, Seymour Denbaum, “Mickey” Rorer, Marshall Barton
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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
Pilot of PENNY
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Mickey on flak leave on the Italian coast
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Lts. Rorer, Seymour Denbaum, James W. Buck and Marshall M. Barton outside their quarters
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The officers hired an Italian man to construct block walls for their quarters
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Molto Buono, Saturday, March 24, 1945
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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
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Surveying the damage
Bomb bay door wrapped around horizontal stabilizer
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Crew of the damaged plane
Left to Right:
S/Sgt. Charles Ernest – Gunner
S/Sgt. Miles Stephenson – Gunner
S/Sgt. Sidney Spyer – Gunner
Lt. John Bigbee – Co-Pilot
T/Sgt. Stanley Duch – Engineer
Lt. Robert Goodoak – Bombardier
Lt. John McWilliams – Navigator
Lt. Mickey Rorer – Pilot
S/Sgt. Rad Daniels – Gunner
S/Sgt. Able Silver – Radio Operator
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Miles Stephenson surveys the damage
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Mickey Rorer in middle
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Mickey Rorer, Stanley Duch and John Bigbee
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Mickey
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723rd Squad Logo
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Upper right: Ambrose “Mouse” Maushart;
Bottom: Mickey Rorer
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Quarters in Manduria; Mickey on left
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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
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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.
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April, 1945: promoted to Captain
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Active duty pilots had to pass this exam
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Check ride before returning to the States
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Record of missions flown
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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.
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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
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Awards earned in the Air Corps
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Summary of Mickey's Air Corps service
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After his discharge, Mickey and another pilot inquired as to what assignment they would get if they re-enlisted.
Mickey would be assigned to be the pilot for the Secretary of State.
There wasn't anything available for the other pilot.
This is just another indication that Mickey was a superb pilot and leader.
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