Henry John Rose
Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 5 May 1942, then-Second Lieutenant Henry John Rose was serving as Pilot of a B-25 Mitchell Bomber in the 3rd Bombardment Group (Light), Far East Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces in the South West Pacific Area.

On that day, 2LT Rose’s unit was in action against Japanese forces near Port Moresby on a reconnaissance mission on enemy targets on New Guinea in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations. As the B-25 exited from a thunderstorm, a fully surfaced Japanese submarine appeared about a mile away. Although the bomber was not carrying bombs, 2LT Rose and his crew tried to sink the sub by using a machine gun. 2LT Rose’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Henry J. Rose, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-25 Medium Bomber in the 3d Bombardment Group (L), FAR EAST Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 5 May 1942, against enemy targets in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Rose on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 24 (1942)

Death and Burial

Captain Henry John Rose died on 26 September 2005 in Dallas, TX. He is buried at Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas, Dallas County, TX.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11838384/henry-john-rose