Oscar H. Thielen Jr. was born on August 4, 1923, in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. He was the son of Oscar Thielen and Katherine Smith Thielen. He served in the 737th Bomber Squadron, 454th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner of B-24H #42-52313 nicknamed ‘Rough Cobb’ during World War II.

On August 29, 1944, during a major bombing mission (Mission 263) conducted by the 454th Bombardment Group of the 15th Air Force from San Giovanni, Italy, the B-24H-15-FO Liberator “Rough Cobb” (serial 42-52313) of the 737th Bombardment Squadron suffered mechanical problems. The aircraft fell behind formation after its No. 2 engine failed, which soon caught fire and spread into the wing. Losing altitude over the rugged terrain of the White Carpathian Mountains near Antonstál (now part of Nemšová, Slovakia), the pilot ordered the crew to bail out. The bomber crashed in the Trenčín District near Antonstál, and among the crew, Staff Sergeant Andrew A. Solock was killed in action during the bailout, and the remaining crew members survived and were captured, becoming prisoners of war.

SSgt Thielen was captured and taken as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow, Pomerania, Prussia. He died on January 25, 2002, and is now buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.leteckabitvakarpaty.cz