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Richard Milton Roper- Truck driver to Air Force Major
In 1939, truck driver Richard M Roper enlisted in the Army as a Private with
the 11th Signal Company, Schofield Barracks, T.H.. His outstanding qualities
were soon acknowledged by his rapid promotion to Staff Sergeant by January
1941. He had a love of flying and wanted to join a unit associated with air
services, and so was successful in joining the 502nd Parachute Infantry,
again as Private, around July 1942. His superiors could not help but notice
his energetic leadership characteristics, and just a few months later Major
J D Rosenberger of Fort Benning, Georgia appointed Pvt Richard M Roper,
6567096 as Aviation Cadet. He was trained at Freeman Army Airfield, and
received a special commendation from his Commander, Major Albert Hughes. He
got his ‘wings’ on May 28 1943, and was commissioned as 2nd Lt, O - 804508,
Pilot, multiple engine bombers. He was assigned immediately to 350th
Squadron, 100th Bomb Group, and in October was sent to England. Thorpe
Abbotts was a state-of-the-art Air Base, custom built for the Boeing B17
Flying Fortress four engined bombers, in which he would fly. His B-17G, with
the new swivel nose turret, was named ‘Fletchers Castoria’ in honour of the
plane’s Pilot William H Fletcher. Richard was designated Co-pilot. Their
first aircraft, 42-39791 was totally destroyed in a landing accident on
December 4th 1943, and the machine was replaced by B-17G, 42-37796.
On 21st February, 1944,
this aircraft was damaged, after a raid in which the 100th Group suffered
severe casualties. Although wheels were lowered, and the craft was flying at
low altitude, this did not prevent further attacks which crippled the
bomber. The two pilots nursed the plane, with great difficulty, to a flat
area near Halfweg, Holland and managed to crash land it without any crew
injuries. Roper was promoted , in his absence, to 1st Lt., and was awarded
the Air Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters for his part in this action. His
Mother, Bessie Roper received the award, in his behalf, from Colonel
Theodore M Bolen, at McCord Field Air Force Base, USA.
All the crew were
eventually captured and became Prisoners Of War. Lt Roper was sent to Stalag
Luft 1, at Barth, Northern Prussia. He remained there until Russian troops
liberated the camp on May 1st 1945. After liberation, the POW’s were
assigned to various Billets in France, and Roper was sent to Paris. He
stayed there until he was transferred to LeHavre, at the end of May 1945, to
be shipped back to Olympia, Washington, where he lived.
Typical of his
determination to continue serving his country, was when he again enlisted as
a Private, immediately after his commission ceased in June 1947. He was
subsequently promoted to Master Sergeant. In May 1948, he received his
second commission and was posted to Manila with 141st Air and Airways
Communications Service Squadron, ranked Captain.
His final posting was
at Pepperrell Air Force Base, AFO 862, Newfoundland. He was ranked Major and
designated as Reserve Pilot, B52. Sadly, he died at his quarters, on 12
February, 1955, due to a heart attack. He was buried at Fort Rosencrans
National Military Cemetery, California. |
