World War II Honoree

Roy F. Beyeler

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Fish Haven, Idaho

Honored By

Family and Friends

Sometime after the bombing of Pearl Harbor he enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Corps and went on to train and serve with the 424th Squadron, 307th Heavy Bomb Group, 2nd Air Force, later becoming part of the 42nd Squadron, 11th Bomb Group 7th Air Force in Hawaii. The 307th Bomb Group was formed in Washington State where they did their initial training. He went to Sioux City, Iowa for additional training. The B-24 he was assigned to crash landed near Wayne, Nebraska on October 4, 1942, killing the bombardier and navigator. He parachuted from the crippled plane. In February of 1943, the 307th Bomb Group was transferred to Guadalcanal where it suffered its greatest losses. By the spring of 1943, he was assigned to the 431st Bombardment Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group, Funafuti Island where he had flown many combat missions. On November 19, 1943, he and his crew were returning from a bombing mission on Betio Island, Tarawa with a shot up B-24 nicknamed 'Rapid Robin'. The pilot made two attempts to land at Nanomea airfield and was waved off. On the third failed attempt the aircraft was ditched about a mile off shore. He was lost when a life raft overturned on the way to the shore. His body was recovered the next day and he was buried in a military cemetery in Hawaii. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal and various overseas medals.