Richard Milton Roper
Military
Robert Preston Roper
Object Number - UPL 30320 - Richard Milton Roper
A former truck driver, R M Roper enlisted as a private but passed cadetship as 4 engine pilot. Commissioned 28 May 1943. Served in UK, 9 Sept 1943-20 June 1945 Station 139 Thorpe Abbotts. On 21 February 1942 his plane was forced to make an emergency landing due to mechanical/engine failure and battle damage, near Halweg , Holland on a mission to Brunswick, GR on 21 Feb 1944 in B-17G #42-37796. Richard was captured and taken to Stalag Luft 1, Barth, Prussia as Prisoner of War (POW). Liberated May 1, 1945. He was awarded Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters for his part in bringing the damaged aircraft down with no loss of life.
Connections
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Units served with
![Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378743.jpg.webp?itok=HBB0lqjl)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fletcher’s Castoria III
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Berkeley, California, USA | 30 September 1916 | |
|
Based |
100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum | 9 September 1943 | Co-Pilot of B-17G 'Fletchers Castoria'. R M Roper's history is documented at 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum at Thorpe Abbotts, England |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Barth, Germany | 21 February 1944 - 1 May 1945 | Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12 |
|
Died |
St. John's, NL, Canada | 12 February 1955 - 21 February 1944 | Died of heart attack in service at his base in St. Johns, Newfoundland. He was reserve pilot of B-52s, 1805th Army Airways Communications Services Wing. |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C type in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Added POW camp information from WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2761 / MACR 2761, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
