In March 1945, on a bombing mission over Germany near Leipsic, Herbert Rotfeld’s bomber was on a mission to bomb Plauen, Germany.  It was hit by anti-aircraft fire flak, which set the right wing on fire. The bomber went into a spin from 22,000 feet, and only two crewmembers (the engineer and a gunner) were able to bail out – both were captured and after the war recounted the story. Herbert was originally buried in a local church cemetery in Wormlage, Germany. He was later moved to the Ardennes American Cemetery in 1952.

The bomber’s co-pilot, David L. Thomas, is also buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery.