Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal was a lawyer and World War II war hero. Robert Rosenthal attended Brooklyn College then attended Brooklyn Law School. After his graduation from Law School, he went to work at a law firm in Manhattan, New York. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. On December 8th Robert Rosenthal enlisted in the United States Army requesting combat training. In August 1943, he completed flight training and became an Army pilot. He went overseas a joined the 418th Squadron of the 100th Bombardment Group in England. He was a pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress named "Rosie's Riveters". On March 1944, Rosenthal and his crew completed 25 combat missions. His crew returned home. Robert Rosenthal extended his tour of duty flying 53 combat missions. On one of his combat missions 13 B-17s were on a mission over Munster, Germany. Rosenthal's B-17 was the only one to return to his home base. In September 1944, Rosenthal's plane was shot down over France. Breaking both arms and his nose he was found by Free French Forces and returned to American lines. As soon as he healed he was returned to duty flying B-17s. On February 3, 1945 Rosenthal was the lead bomber on a mission over Berlin, Germany. His B-17 was badly damaged by enemy fire. He kept his plane on target and dropped his payload. He ordered his crew to bail out of the plane. Rosenthal stayed with the crippled plane bringing it down to 1000 feet and then Rosenthal bailed out. Upon his bailing out of the plane it exploded. He was found by Russian Troops and returned to American Air Force. Robert Rosenthal was Commanding Officer of the 350th Bombardment Squadron at the end of the war in Europe. Robert Rosenthal could have gone home, but he was asked to serve as an Assistant United States Prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials. He was the officer in charge of Hermann Goring's interrogation. This information lead to his convictions and death sentence for War Crimes. Robert Rosenthal received numerous medals for his service. He received the following: Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart Medal and The Croix de Guerre with Palm from France. He was later honored by the Jewish War Veterans and the American Lawyers Association for his work on the Nuremberg Trials. He passed away in Rye, Westchester County, New York, on April 20, 2007, at age 89.
Robert "Rosie" Rosenthal was a lawyer and World War II war hero. Robert Rosenthal attended Brooklyn College then attended Brooklyn Law School. After his graduation from Law School, he went to work at a law firm in Manhattan, New York. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. On December 8th Robert Rosenthal enlisted in the United States Army requesting combat training. In August 1943, he completed flight training and became an Army pilot. He went overseas a joined the 418th Squadron of the 100th Bombardment Group in England. He was a pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress named "Rosie's Riveters". On March 1944, Rosenthal and his crew completed 25 combat missions. His crew returned home. Robert Rosenthal extended his tour of duty flying 53 combat missions. On one of his combat missions 13 B-17s were on a mission over Munster, Germany. Rosenthal's B-17 was the only one to return to his home base. In September 1944, Rosenthal's plane was shot down over France. Breaking both arms and his nose he was found by Free French Forces and returned to American lines. As soon as he healed he was returned to duty flying B-17s. On February 3, 1945 Rosenthal was the lead bomber on a mission over Berlin, Germany. His B-17 was badly damaged by enemy fire. He kept his plane on target and dropped his payload. He ordered his crew to bail out of the plane. Rosenthal stayed with the crippled plane bringing it down to 1000 feet and then Rosenthal bailed out. Upon his bailing out of the plane it exploded. He was found by Russian Troops and returned to American Air Force. Robert Rosenthal was Commanding Officer of the 350th Bombardment Squadron at the end of the war in Europe. Robert Rosenthal could have gone home, but he was asked to serve as an Assistant United States Prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials. He was the officer in charge of Hermann Goring's interrogation. This information lead to his convictions and death sentence for War Crimes. Robert Rosenthal received numerous medals for his service. He received the following: Distinguished Flying Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart Medal and The Croix de Guerre with Palm from France. He was later honored by the Jewish War Veterans and the American Lawyers Association for his work on the Nuremberg Trials. He passed away in Rye, Westchester County, New York, on April 20, 2007, at age 89.
