Lt. Gene F. Rogge Biography-1
Lt. Gene F. Rogge (1929 - ) -- 1951 Le Phare Chronograph
Air Force F-86 Fighter Pilot in Korea
Shot Down a Russian MiG-15 / August 1, 1952
Scenario: Korean War Air Force Dog Fight: F-86 Sabres vs. MiG-15s
Date: August 1, 1952
Location: MiG Alley, North Korea
Lt. Gene Rogge, a twenty-three year old Air Force fighter pilot, is flying in a four-finger formation with 31 other F-86 Sabre jet fighters on a routine patrol near the North Korean border. Gene radios his wingman, Lt. William E. Brown, “There are MiGs over there, Bill..."
Suddenly, 60 Russian MiG-15s engage the 32 F-86s in a bristling air battle. Gene sees a MiG attacking his wingman, circles behind the MiG, and begins firing his M3 Browning machine guns.
As recorded on Gene’s gun camera, the MiG goes down in flames, saving Brown’s life. This battle resulted in three downed MiGs and no US casualties.
This scenario is not from a Hollywood movie – no Tom Cruise, no Top Guns, no stuntmen: A real Korean War dog fight with real Air Force heroes.
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Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Gene F. Rogge (1929 - ) is 96 years old and living near Fort Worth, Texas. As a career Air Force pilot and officer, he served bravely in Korea and throughout the Cold War. Along with Navy Captain Royce Williams, Gene is one of the last living Korean War fighter pilots credited with destroying a MiG-15.
Gene Rogge Shoots Down a MiG
Gene enlisted in the Air Force in the summer of 1950, and earned his Lieutenant Wings in June 1951. Before being deployed to Japan in October, Gene acquired a steel-cased Le Phare (“Light House”) brand two-register Swiss chronograph, engraved on the back “Lt. Gene F. Rogge ~ AO 2222017” (his Air Force Officer service number).
His Le Phare chronograph was returned to 96-year-old Gene and his son Gregory in November 2025.
Pvt. Paul R. Thomer Biography-1
Paul Thomer's Watch Returned to His Family - Sept 2023
On Sept 9, 2023, Pvt. Thomer’s watch was returned to his daughter Deborah and her four siblings, exactly 80 years after Paul purchased it. They will treasure it as a tangible memory of their courageous Dad. Semper Fi.
Pvt. Paul Thomer -- 1942 Guadalcanal Marine & His Watch
Private Paul R. Thomer (1923–1992) fought at Guadalcanal as a member of the famed 1st Marine Division. Paul was from Pittsburgh PA, and enlisted in the Marines in January 1942.
The 1st Marine Division sailed from San Francisco in June, and landed on the island of Guadalcanal on Aug 7, 1942. This was the first major US amphibious landing of World War II. The invasion ignited a ferocious struggle with Japanese forces, marked by seven major naval battles, numerous clashes ashore, and almost continuous air combat through December 1942.
The fighting at Guadalcanal took a terrible toll; the 1st Division suffered 650 killed in action and 1,278 wounded, with a further 8,580 contracting malaria and other diseases. As one Marine recalled, ”the Division suffered 100% casualties, with the dead, wounded, and those sick from malaria, dengue fever, jungle rot, malnutrition and combat fatigue… “.
Battle-weary and in poor health following the Guadalcanal campaign, the men of the First Marine Division were shipped to Melbourne Australia for nine months recuperation in January 1943. “They were greeted with warm hospitality; these 15,000 young American men found a home away from home”.
On Feb 10, 1943, Paul Thome purchased a steel-cased wristwatch from a local Melbourne jewelry store, and had it engraved “Paul R. Thomer ~ U.S.M.C. ~ 343824 ~ Australia ~ 2-10-43”.
The 1st Division returned to combat in the South Pacific in October 1943, leading the December offensive at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. “The action they found there has been described as the toughest man has ever endured.” In July 1944, the 1st Division returned to the US for stateside duty. Paul was honorably discharged in 1945.
In 1954, Paul married Frances Mary LaRoche in Pittsburgh; in 1962, they moved to California. Paul and Frances had five children – two sons and three daughters. Paul died on February 16, 1992, and is buried with Frances in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, CA.