Lawrence Joseph “Buddy” Rooney was born on September 11, 1918, in Aroostook County, Maine. He was the son of Ralph Wilbur Rooney and Bernice Marie Haggerty Rooney.
He resided in Aroostook County, Maine, prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 13, 1941, in Portland, Maine. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being Single, without dependents.
Lawrence served in the 850th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on the B-17G #43-38009 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on September 13, 1944, in the crash of his plane in Germany.
B-17G #43-38009 took off, with a crew of 9, from Eye, England, on a bombing mission over Ludwigshafen, Germany. Near the target, they were hit by anti-aircraft fire, which blew their left-wing off and crashed near the target.
Sgt Rooney is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France.
Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38009:
Crixell, Teofilo, III ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, TX
De Santis, Jenner J. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NJ
Garry, Donald R. ~ Sgt, Waist Gunner, MI
Godfrey, John E. ~ Sgt, Engineer, WA
Jensen, Oscar ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, MN
Ostler, Frederick B. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, ID
Rooney, Lawrence J. ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, ME
Airmen who survived the crash:
Davis, Albert ~ 1st Lt, Pilot
Wessel, Richard F. H. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, POW
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov