World War II Honoree

Roger C. Newberry

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Honored By

An Indebted American

Relationship

None

ENLISTED IN THE SERVICE IN COLUMBUS, OHIO ON JULY 15, 1941 AT AGE 24. COMMISSIONED AT FOSTER FIELD IN TEXAS IN THE AIR CORPS ADVANCED FLYING SCHOOL IN FEBRUARY 1942. NEXT WENT TO MYRTLE BEACH AND THE 55TH PURSUIT SQUADRON AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT WITH THE RATING OF PILOT . WENT OVERSEAS AND TRAINED IN SPITFIRE FIGHTER PLANES UNTIL OCTOBER. PROMOTED TO FIRST LIEUTENANT ON DECEMBER 10, 1941 AND WENT TO TUNISIA, NORTH AFRICA’S COMBAT THEATER. BECAME A KEY MEMBER OF THE 2ND FIGHTER SQUADRON, 52ND FIGHTER GROUP. WHILE FLYING A MISSION OVER GAFSA ON FEBRUARY 17, 1943, WAS KILLLED ON FEBRUARY 17, 1943 WHEN HIS SPITFIRE PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN OVER GAFSA, NORTH AFRICIA BY A GERMAN FIGHTER PILOT. RECIPIENT OF THE ARMY AIR MEDAL AND TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS.