Frank Rolfe served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a Second Lieutenant with the 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy), 8th Air Force during World War II. On September 27, 1943, he was a navigator aboard a B-17 (#42-29750) on a bombing mission of industrial targets in Emden, Germany. Shortly after completing its bomb run over the target, the aircraft was seen falling out of formation with an engine on fire, likely the result of enemy fighters or flak. It crashed into the North Sea off the coast of Germany near the island of Langeoog. Two crewmen were able to bail out and became prisoners of war. Eight others, including Lt. Rolfe, were either killed in the crash or bailed out and drowned. Lt. Rolfe's body washed ashore on Langeoog several days later.
