Max Emmanuel Rosen

First Lieutenant
361ST TAC ELECTRONIC WARFARE SQD, 460TH TRW, 7TH AF
United States Air Force
25 April 1943 - 08 October 1969
Philadelphia, PA
Panel 17W Line 052

7TH AF

C-47

361ST TEWS
Max E. Rosen

USAF Pilot

Air Medal, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Max Emmanuel Rosen

20 May 2003

The photo just above and following article is taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987. The formal photograph is from the USAF Academy Association of Graduates.

"He was bitten by the roar of the engines and decided to go for his wings," said a sister of Rosen's decision to become an Air Force pilot. He was a graduate of Northeast High School, Georgetown University and the Air Force Academy. During his high school days here, Rosen ran long-distance track. He planned to make flying a career and hoped to become a flying instructor after he left the service. The 26-year-old first lieutenant was sent to Viet Nam where he flew EC-47 surveillance aircraft for the 361st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron of the 37th Combat Support Group. Rosen was killed in Binh Dinh Province, Viet Nam, on October 8, 1968. He was survived by his parents, and three sisters.

From a native Philadelphian and Marine,
Jim McIlhenney
christianamacks@comcast.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall

1st Lt Rosen was the copilot on "Prong 33", an EC-47P (tail number 43-49100) which was on a radio direction finding mission out of Phu Cat Air Base. After returning to base to have an inoperable navigational instrument fixed, the aircraft launched into marginal weather. Upon arrival in its operating area, the pilot in command determined that the weather conditions were unsafe and turned back toward Phu Cat.

Prong 33 was given a radar-controlled approach to Phu Cat, but as the aircraft approached the airfield the crew reported an inverter fire and loss of directional and attitude instruments. Shortly after that call radio and radar contact with Prong 33 was lost.

Bad weather hampered search and rescue operations and the wreckage was not located until four days later, 12 October 1969. Six aircrewmen died in the crash:

  • 361st Tac Electronic Warfare Squadron, 460th TRW, 7TH AF
    • 1st Lt Ronald H. Knight, Strawberry Plains, TN, pilot
    • 1st Lt Max E. Rosen, Philadelphia, PA, copilot
    • Capt Bradley R. Ransom, Barlow, KY, navigator
    • TSgt Sylvester W. Redman, Petersburg, WV, flight engineer
  • Det 1, 6994th Security Squadron, 7TH AF
More information is available on the EC-47 site .


The point-of-contact for this memorial is
a native Philadelphian and Viet Vet,
Jim McIlhenney
christianamacks@comcast.net 
20 May 2003



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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 10/20/2003