Frank Elza Middaugh was born on 17 March 1923, in Perry County, Ohio. His parents are George E. & Ida Middaugh of Marion. Frank had attended schools in Junction City, Ohio, before coming to Marion. Frank married Mary E. (Redmon) on 23 December 1942, in Marion, Ohio. Prior to entering service, Frank was employed by Marion Metal Products.
Frank E. Middaugh would enter service on 13 January 1943, in Columbus, Ohio. He would be stationed at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; and see training at Dyersburg, Tennessee and Mobile, Alabama. His wife, Mary, was able to be with him while he was serving from April until September. Prior to his overseas move, she would return to stay with her parents in Caledonia, Ohio.
Frank E. Middaugh attained the rank of Technician Fifth Grade (Tech 5). He was serving with the 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation, United States Army Air Force. In early October of 1943, Tech 5 Middaugh would depart for overseas duty. The 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation was on its way to build landing strips and hangars in India, for B-29 Superfortresses.
Tech 5 Frank E. Middaugh was declared Missing in Action (MIA), after His Majesty’s Transport (HMT) Rohna, was sunk on 27 November 1943. The HMT Rohna was sunk off the coast of Béjaïa, Algeria. The ship was attacked by a German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177, which dropped a glide-bomb that struck the port side. The sinking of HMT Rohna was the largest loss of United States troops by enemy attack at sea. 1,015 personnel lost there life at the sinking and another 35 would later die from injuries sustained in the attack.

A converted troop ship, the British-built Rohna was on its way to the China-Burma-India theater and jam-packed with nearly 2,000 men when it was hit by a German radio-controlled bomb on Nov. 26, 1943.
The Rohna, part of a Mediterranean convoy, was the only ship to take a direct hit from a guided bomb and sank with 1,149 people. The 725-pound warhead pierced the lightly plated port side of the Rohna just astern of the aft funnel. Its delayed fuse exploded, blowing huge holes outward on either side of the ship at the waterline, near the engine room. The engine room flooded and caught fire. All electrical power went out. The ship’s superstructure above the engine room collapsed. Many ladders that were the only means of escape for hundreds below were shattered. Hatch covers began blowing into the sky.
The entire 853rd Engineer Aviation Battalion, located in compartments just aft of the engine room in the center of the ship, took a direct hit. More than 300 were believed killed instantly. Many more were sealed inside with no chance of escape. Many survived the initial strike but died in German strafing attacks or drowned in the open ocean. Some are buried in cemeteries in North Africa and Italy; others are still inside the wreck or scattered nearby.

“Forgotten Tragedy” by Carlton Jackson

On the date that Frank Middaugh’s wife and family received news that he was MIA, his wife had given birth to their daughter. The daughter was only four months old when Middaugh was officially declared killed in action.
Tech 5 Frank E. Middaugh’s remains were never recovered. He is remembered on the Tablets Of The Missing, North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.
Frank E. Middaugh is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

Another Marion Veteran was also killed aboard the HMT Rohna, during the sinking, Cpl. Bernard L. McCombs.
Read more: “Allied Secret: The Sinking of HMT Rohna.” by Carlton Jackson
Rohna – CLASSIFIED

Bernard Lynn McCombs was born on 14 June 1923, in Marion, Ohio. His parents are Leroy & Ola (Shirk) McCombs. Bernard had attended school at Thomas A. Edison Junior High in Marion, Ohio. He had been employed at the Marion Steam Shovel Company and prior to entering service he was employed at the Scioto Ordnance Plant as a construction worker. He also enjoyed playing on the Ordnance football team.
Bernard McCombs entered service on 13 January 1943. He would be stationed at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; and see training at Dyersburg, Tennessee and Mobile, Alabama.

Bernard was one of five brothers serving; Staff Sergeant John L. McCombs, Seaman First Class Robert M. McCombs, Fireman First Class Dale E. McCombs, and Marine Private Dale E. McCombs.
Bernard would attain the rank of Corporal (Cpl.) and go overseas in early October of 1943. Cpl. McCombs served with the 853rd Engineers Battalion, Aviation, as a cook.

Cpl. Bernard L. McCombs was declared Missing in Action (MIA), after His Majesty’s Transport (HMT) Rohna, was sunk on 27 November 1943. The HMT Rohna was sunk off the coast of Béjaïa, Algeria. The ship was attacked by a German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177, which dropped a glide-bomb that struck the port side. The sinking of HMT Rohna was the largest loss of United States troops by enemy attack at sea. 1,015 personnel lost there life at the sinking and another 35 would later die from injuries sustained in the attack.

A converted troop ship, the British-built Rohna was on its way to the China-Burma-India theater and jam-packed with nearly 2,000 men when it was hit by a German radio-controlled bomb on Nov. 26, 1943.
The Rohna, part of a Mediterranean convoy, was the only ship to take a direct hit from a guided bomb and sank with 1,149 people. The 725-pound warhead pierced the lightly plated port side of the Rohna just astern of the aft funnel. Its delayed fuse exploded, blowing huge holes outward on either side of the ship at the waterline, near the engine room. The engine room flooded and caught fire. All electrical power went out. The ship’s superstructure above the engine room collapsed. Many ladders that were the only means of escape for hundreds below were shattered. Hatch covers began blowing into the sky.
The entire 853rd Engineer Aviation Battalion, located in compartments just aft of the engine room in the center of the ship, took a direct hit. More than 300 were believed killed instantly. Many more were sealed inside with no chance of escape. Many survived the initial strike but died in German strafing attacks or drowned in the open ocean. Some are buried in cemeteries in North Africa and Italy; others are still inside the wreck or scattered nearby.

“Forgotten Tragedy” by Carlton Jackson

Cpl. Bernard L. McCombs’ remains were never recovered. He is remembered on the Tablets Of The Missing, North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.
Bernard L. McCombs is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

Another Marion Veteran was also killed aboard the HMT Rohna, during the sinking, Tech5 Frank E. Middaugh.
Read more: “Allied Secret: The Sinking of HMT Rohna.” by Carlton Jackson
Rohna – CLASSIFIED