World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Roland N. Peterson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Athol, Massachusetts
Honored By
A Grateful American
STAFF SERGEANT, RADIO OPERATOR/GUNNER, B-24 LIBERATOR 'TWIN NIFTIES', 400TH SQUADRON (BLACK PIRATES), 90TH BOMB GROUP 'JOLLY ROGERS', 5TH AIR FORCE, SERVING IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. KILLED AUGUST 17, 1943. HE TOOK OFF ON A NIGHT MISSION TO BOMB BORAM AIRFIELD NEAR WEWAK AND MET HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE AND SEARCHLIGHTS OVER TARGET. HIS PLANE HIT ANOTHER BOMBER AND WAS DAMAGED. IT FLEW FOR ANOTHER TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE CRASHING NEAR THE SEPIK RIVER SOUTHWEST OF WEWAK. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.