Homer Logan Rodeheaver was born 1918 in Campbell County, Tennessee. His parents were Clyde Alzy Rodenheaver and Ella Logan. He served as a 1st Lt. with 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. He died 21 May 1944 and is buried in Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium. Plot C Row 3 Grave 23.

1st Lt Rodeheaver was the pilot of aircraft Mustang P-51-B15NA with serial number 42-106818.

Statement from 1st Lt Harry L. Matthew, Air Corps.
I was flying in string behind 1st Lt Homer L. Rodeheaver while strafing trains in the vicinity of Reinfeld, Germany on 21 May 1944. On our third pass Lt Rodeheaver racked in a tight turn, fired at the locomotive and pulled out violently. At about 100-150 feet he snapped into his back and crashed into the ground at approximately 300 MPH. This occurred at 1242 while we were firing on our second locomotive. Due to the fact that his turns were much tighter than mine, I am quite sure that his accident was due to loss of control in his quick pull-out because of gasoline in his fuselage tank. There was absolutely no ground fire coming up, so I am sure almost he was just turning too tightly.

1st Lt Rodeheaver crashed 300 meters south of the Railway Station Ventschow in Mecklenburg, Germany.

  • Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Date of birth:
  • 29 December 1917
  • Date of death: 21 May 1944
  • County: Campbell
  • Hometown: Jellico
  • Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
  • Division/Assignment: 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group
  • Theater: Europe
  • Conflict: World War II
  • Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
  • Burial/Memorial Location: Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre (Neuville-en-Condroz), Belgium
  • Location In Memorial: Pillar VII, Middle Panel
  • Contact us to sponsor Homer L. Rodeheaver

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