Ernest served as a Sergeant, 322nd Fighter Control Squadron, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

He resided in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on November 20, 1942 in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Manufacturing Foremen and also as Single, with dependents.

Ernest was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.

The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.

1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.

Ernest was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during during the war.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 31178444

Ernest also has a "cenotaph" in the Westlawn Cemetery, Goffstown, New Hampshire. Please view the Westlawn Cemetery Cenotaph HERE


Bio by: Russ Pickett

Ernest served as a Sergeant, 322nd Fighter Control Squadron, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

He resided in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on November 20, 1942 in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Manufacturing Foremen and also as Single, with dependents.

Ernest was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.

The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.

1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.

Ernest was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during during the war.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 31178444

Ernest also has a "cenotaph" in the Westlawn Cemetery, Goffstown, New Hampshire. Please view the Westlawn Cemetery Cenotaph HERE


Bio by: Russ Pickett