World War II Honoree

Roland W. ‘Ross’ Chivers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Boulder, Colorado

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

Relationship

Friend

ENLISTED IN THE AIR CORPS AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON JULY 15, 1942 AT DENVER, COLORADO. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT SANTA ANA ARMY AIR BASE, CALIFORNIA, AND VOLUNTEERED FOR GLIDER PILOT TRAINING, AFTER WHICH HE WAS TEMPORARILY PROMOTED TO STAFF SERGEANT AND STATIONED VARIOUSLY AT VISALIA ARMY AIR FIELD, CALIFORNIA, CHICO ARMY AIR FIELD, CALIFORNIA, AND DOUGLAS ARMY AIR FIELD, ARIZONA. WITH TWO YEARS OF PRIOR STUDY AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, VOLUNTEERED FOR AND COMMENCED THE 10 MONTH AVIATION CADET PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM ON MAY 7, 1943. GRADUATED WITH PILOT WINGS AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS AN ENLISTED MAN ON JANUARY 6, 1944 TO ACCEPT A COMMISSION AS SECOND LIEUTENANT THE NEXT DAY. QUALIFIED IN THE CESSNA-BUILT, TWIN ENGINE AT-17 ‘BOBCAT’ LIGHT TRANSPORT WHILE STATIONED AT STOCKTON FIELD, CALIFORNIA, AND LATER COMPLETED THE 10 WEEK TRANSITION TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE FOUR ENGINE BOEING B-17 ‘FLYING FORTRESS’ HEAVY BOMBER AT ROSWELL ARMY AIR FIELD, NEW MEXICO. RESTRICTED FROM OVERSEAS DUTY DUE TO A KNEE INJURY THAT REQUIRED SURGICAL REPAIR. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT ON APRIL 26, 1946 AT THE ARMY AIR FORCE TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.