Berthold B. Rosen World War II Papers

Collection

Identifier: A3061

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers consist of letters written by Bert Rosen while serving in the Army Air Force dating from 1943 to 1945. There are also five theatre programs from the U.S. Army’s I.B.S. Special Service productions in Sicily dating from December 1943 to February 1944. The papers are arranged chronologically.

Rosen wrote to his wife, Ellen, and to his mother, Lucille Rosen. Most of the letters in the collection date from March to December 1943. The December 1943 letters are written after Rosen’s arrival in North Africa but contain no references to his work there due to censorship. There is only one letter from 1944, a V-mail letter from North Africa dated 24 April 1944. By 24 May 1944, Rosen was back in the U.S. and sent two telegrams to Ellen to let her know when to expect him home on leave. The only correspondence from 1945 are two telegrams sent on 9 November 1945, informing Ellen when he will arrive home.

From March to May 1943, Rosen was in Texas. Ellen was in Texas with him for a time, she wrote one letter to Lucille (25 April 1943). In most of the letters, Rosen told about his daily schedule and some of his assignments, like a three day hike. He often asked after family and friends. Rosen rarely mentioned his specialized training with gliders except to discuss a presentation he gave and to explain that he needed to be reclassified in order to be promoted to sergeant (17 Sept 1943). After the birth of their daughter, baby Lee and their family became the primary topic.

The five theatre programs for performances at the Teatro Massimo are published in mostly English but the title pages are in Italian. The top of each program reads, “I.B.S. Special Service.” The I.B.S. Special Service also created personal health and safety posters and educational materials for the troops during the Second World War.

Dates

1943-1945
Majority of material found within 1943 Feb-Dec

Creator

Rosen, Berthold B., 1918-2006 (Author, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Biographical Sketch

Berthold ("Bert") Benjamin Rosen was born to Lucille (Brasch) and William Rosen in St. Louis on 13 August 1918. Lucille was a daughter of Leo and Effie Brasch. William Rosen was a native Russian and worked with Lucille’s father at the family furniture store. Berthold went by several nicknames, his mother always called him "Bud" or "Buddy," and others knew him as "Bert."

Rosen graduated from University City High School in 1937, and then studied business at Washington University in 1937 and 1938. He worked as a manager at the Eastgate Food Shop at 610 Eastgate Avenue from 1936 to 1940. From 1941 to 1943, he was an assembler and production lead man at the Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Corporation at Lambert Field where he oversaw the assembly of de-icer systems for military aircraft.

Before Rosen joined the Army, he married his first wife, Ellen, and lived in University City. The couple’s first daughter, Lee (Rosen) Scissors, was born in November 1943. The couple had another daughter, Lynn (Rosen) Barth. After the war, Rosen was active in the St. Louis Jewish Community, heading the Shaare Emeth Congregation for a few years, and volunteering in many local organizations. Ellen preceded Bert in death. He later married Ruth Mendelsohn, whom he widowed upon his death on 8 January 2006.

Bert Rosen joined the Army on 27 February 1943 at Jefferson Barracks. He was assigned to the Army Air Force (AAF) and received six weeks of basic training at Sheppard Field near Wichita Falls, Texas, with the 304th Training Group. Rosen was attached to the 419th Tactical Training Squadron while he trained for six weeks at the Glider Mechanic Technical School, receiving instruction on the mechanics and operations of gliders. On 8 June 1943, Rosen’s unit was sent to the Glider Pilot Combat Training Unit at Bowman Field near Louisville, Kentucky. For a month beginning in late August, Rosen studied the theory, operation, and maintenance of automatic pilot and related equipment at the Naval Experimental Aircraft Factory at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He received leave from Bowman Field during September and by September 27th, Rosen was at Camp Mackall in North Carolina, attached to the 38th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Rosen was assigned to the North African Theater of Operation and arrived in theatre on 15 December 1943. He served with the 12th Army Air Force as an instructor, training pilots on the mechanics, navigation and operation of gliders. For his overseas service Rosen is credited with participation in the Rome-Arno Campaign and per Standing Order 166, he received a Distinguished Unit badge. He returned to the United States on 21 May 1944 having served overseas for five months and six days.

After returning to the U.S., Rosen continued to work as an instructor with Squadron C, 810th Army Air Force Base Unit at Maxton Field, North Carolina. He served for 12 months as technical instructor at the rank of Sergeant, teaching pilots ditching and survival procedures and computation of safe and capacity load of all powered aircraft and gliders. Rosen was discharged on 11 November 1945 at Scott Field, Illinois.