CAPTAIN HUGH RAWLIN ROPER - SERIAL O-432129

PILOT 330TH BOMB SQUADRON, 93RD BOMB GROUP

PERSONAL

Hugh Rawlin Roper was born 17 April 1915 in Oak City, Utah, to Abel Mosley Roper (22 February 1868 – 18 August 1954) and Rachel Rawlinson (20 August 1873 – 7 October 1957). He switched his name from Rawlin Hugh to Hugh Rawlin in the early 1940s, so records exist under both combinations.

Hugh had 8 siblings:

Parley L (31 December 1895 – 10 February 1959)
Henry (26 March 1899 – 21 June 1985)
Mabel (9 April 1901 – 16 August 1981)
Lemira (19 March 1903 – 4 November 1987)
Mary (19 March 1905 – 9 April 1994)
Ethel (13 March 1907 – 25 December 1994)
Lucille (7 January 1909 – 16 September 1989)
Lawrence Abel (29 October 1911 – 11 March 1921)

Hugh married Abbie Euphemia West (13 January 1922 - deceased) on 11 February 1942 in Reno, Nevada, which was the location of Abbie’s home. (Abbie remarried after Hugh’s death and took on the surname of Frazier.)

The 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses showed the family living in Oak City, Utah with Abel (father) working as a farmer.

Hugh graduated from Delta High School in 1936 and from Brigham Young University in 1940.

At the time of the 1940 Census, Hugh was working as a teacher in the Carbon County School System.

MILITARY

Hugh registered for the draft on 17 October 1940 in Price, Utah and enlisted in the Air Corps on 26 April 1941 in Salt Lake City.

Hugh was one of a small group of pilots who trained at the United Airlines training facility in Reno, Nevada, where presumably he met Abbie.

Hugh graduated in Class 41-1 from Mather Field on 12 December 1941.

On 14 May 1942, the 93rd Bomb Group finished their first phase of training at Barksdale Field, Louisiana, and headed to Ft. Myers, Florida. In September 1942, Lt. Roper head overseas (to England).

The local press (Millard County News) followed Hugh’s military career very closely, and, as such, there are numerous references to his activities.

On one occasion, Hugh was chosen to ferry an USO troupe from Ireland to England, then all around England and back to Ireland. In the troupe was comedienne Martha Raye. This story, and a photo of the two of them, appeared in numerous newspapers.

Another story told how he (as a Lt.) destroyed a German Junkers 88 bomber when 6 of them attacked him while he was on an anti-submarine patrol over the Bay of Biscay. (North of Spain and west of France.) The mission afforded protection to an armada of Allied ships sailing for the invasion of North Africa. The Junkers attacked Lt. Roper’s plane from both sides and the rear several times until one of them finally ran into the concentrated fire of Lt. Roper’s plane, was shot down and crashed into the sea.

Hugh also flew missions to Rouen, Brest, St. Nazaire, Dunkirk, and Rotterdam, many of them with his close friend, also from Utah, Walter Stewart.

On 22 March 1943, Lt. Roper participated in a mission on the German naval base at Wilhelmshaven. Lt. Roper was quoted as saying: “It was lots of good hunting for the gunners. We saw red and yellow smoke in the target area.”

In early June 1943, Lt. Roper wrote home to say that he had three more missions to fly to get to the magic number of 25, after which time he would return home. However, shortly after that, he was transferred to North Africa to prepare for a mission to Rome, a mission which he was given the honor to lead. During this mission, he flew with Walter Stewart on a plane named “Utah Man”.

On 27 June 1943, the 93rd Bomb Group relocated to Benghazi, Libya. With Field Marshall Rommel’s army out of the way, the 93rd had the opportunity to bomb German areas of resistance throughout the region. The location of this base also gave the group better access to Italy and central Europe.

MISSION

On 1 August 1943, 178 B-24 Liberators took off from their bases around Benghazi, Libya, on a mission to the Ploesti oil fields in Romania. The mission was called “Operation Tidal Wave”. Ploesti was one of the most heavily defended targets in Europe, with significant numbers of antiaircraft guns and small caliber weapons, the latter of which were useful on low flying planes. Barrage balloons surrounded the site, and there were fighters bases all along the route and near the target area.

Since the planes flew over enemy territory most of the way, the Axis’ air defenses were alerted that a major mission was underway.

This mission called for extremely low-level attacks, which made the planes susceptible to the small weapons fire mentioned above.

Planes were shot down in great numbers. This mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theater, with 53 aircraft and 660 air crewmen lost. It was proportionally the costliest major Allied air raid of the war.

Capt. Roper was the pilot of B-24 serial 41-23717 "Exterminator". Coming in at tree top level they targeted the Romanian oil refineries. Capt. Roper was leading the 3rd element of B force, briefed to attack White II at Ploesti oil complex Rumania, but they attacked White V. White targets were in the immediate Ploesti area.

The Exterminator was hit over the target area, with a hole punctured in the right wing. Despite several of the crew being wounded, Capt. Roper maintained position in formation.

While withdrawing over the mountains of Macedonia, Capt. Roper’s plane collided in a cloud bank with another plane, serial 41-24121 (Let er Rip). Both aircraft entered into dives and while the pilots seemed to briefly recover, they both crashed in the mountains east of Brod in Macedonia. Eyewitnesses claimed to see a few parachutes around Capt. Roper’s ship, but they were not from Capt. Roper’s plane. In reality, 4 men bailed out and 3 survived. The fourth man’s parachute collapsed and he was killed.

This was Hugh’s 25th mission…had he survived, he would have flown his last mission and sent home.

POST-MISSION

Missing Air Crew Reports #334 (41-23717) and #462 (41-24121) were assigned to this incident.

Hugh was first reported missing on 18 August 1943, and once again on 13 October 1943. It wasn’t until the War Department notified his family on 12 September 1946 that he was officially declared dead. He was categorized as FOD (finding of death).

One of the 3 survivors from 41-14121, S/Sgt Clifford Koon, gave two accounts of the accident after his release from a POW camp:

His first account:

“While returning to base, my ship collided with the ship of the element leader. Myself, the right waist gunner and the turret gunner were the only men to get out of the 2 planes. I landed near the Bulgarian-Romanian border and within 2 days we three were together. I saw the Bulgarians burying the bodies of those killed in the crash of the 2 planes.”

His second account:

“Three members of my crew, as far as I know, went down with the plane. We collided with our element leader in the clouds over Serbia. I bailed out and I only saw three chutes other than my own open. Out of the other plane, no chutes. I saw both planes burning on the mountainside. There are only 3 of us alive as far as I know. The other chute I saw was Pearson, my tail gunner. The Bulgarian police told me that both his legs were cut off and that he bled to death before he hit the ground.

The other ship was flown by Capt. Roper and Captain Jones. The other members of the crew I do not know by name. Captain Jones was operations officer for the 330th squadron.

The police told me they had buried 7 bodies. I only saw two of these. They were from Capt. Roper’s crew. They had not used their chutes so I guess they were just thrown from the ship. The bodies were so mangled that I didn’t recognize them. I don’t knpow the exact whereabouts of the grave but I think they could be found easy enough. Since we were the first plane to crash around there.”

Lt. Walter T. Stewart, one of Capt. Roper’s close friends, was also on the Ploesti mission. After Hugh’s death, he penned the following letter which ran in the local Utah newspapers:

Somewhere in the Middle East

August 9, 1943

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Roper and all,

By now I trust you’ve received word that Hugh is missing in action. This is something I’ve prayed I’d never have to say.

Let me tell you what I know about it. He crossed the target, dropped his bombs on it and was safely on the way home. I had lost my two other planes in my flight so, being all alone, I flew over and tacked on his left wing. Another plane forced me out (everyone liked to fly off Rawlin) so I couldn’t stay on him. I had a leaky gas tank so I had to slow down; I couldn’t keep up. We flew into bad weather. I never saw Hugh or Lt. Olliffe after that.

After we returned to the field two pilots reported they had seen two large planes smashed up on the ground in Europe on the way home. One fellow saw several parachutes on the ground also. This is all I know. I wish it were more. If I find out anything, I’ll let you know immediately.

I do have faith that he and most of his crew as well as the other crew are safe. If any man could have escaped and could have enable his crew to escape your son could---he was the best pilot I have ever known.

Of all the friends I’ve had, Hugh is the dearest. I’ve never known a man who had so much universal respect from his fellow soldiers as did Hugh.

May God in heaven give you comfort.

Hugh’s memorial service was held on 9 February 1947 in the Oak City ward chapel.

Funeral services were conducted on 21 January 1950.

Capt. Roper’s remains were initially buried with the 16 other men who died in the same incident. The American Graves Registration Service attempted to do individual identification, but had no success in doing so. They concluded that only a group identification of the remains was possible. The remains were placed in a single casket and were held at the American Cemetery in Bulgaria until they made their way back to the US. On 21 January 1950, the remains of 17 men were interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

2 of the men were identified and were buried separately in Bulgaria and eventually interred in other cemeteries.

Nelson Collins of 41-14121 was buried at the Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy.

Lt. Louis M. Nicholson was buried at Greenville Cemetery in Mississippi.

COMMENDATIONS

★ Distinguished Flying Cross – awarded to his wife posthumously for “extraordinary achievement, while serving as a pilot on 25 missions over enemy occupied territory. The courage coolness, and skill displayed by Captain Roper on all these occasions reflect the highest credit on him.”

★ Silver Star – awarded to his wife posthumously “for gallantry in action while participating in operations against the Ploesti Oil Refineries of Rumania. Exceptional fortitude, steadfastness and devotion to duty were displayed by Captain Roper in his performance of duty as pilot on a heavy bombardment. The valor of Captain Roper was an inspiration to all the combat personnel, and reflects great honor on both himself and on the military service.”

Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster
Purple Heart
United States Aviator Badge
World War II Victory Medal
American Campaign Medal
Army Presidential Unit Citation
Army Good Conduct Medal

CREW OF 41-23717

Ted Brannon 1st Lt PA Bombardier
William A De Freese S/Sgt AL Gunner
John T Dee Sgt PA Gunner
Jack S Jones Capt LA Observer
Earle P Lemoine S/Sgt LA Gunner
Henry C Loyd, Jr T/Sgt MI Radio operator
William H Prather Flight Off CO Co-pilot
Hugh Rawlin Roper Capt UT Pilot
John B White, Jr Capt IL Navigator
Frank Young S/Sgt NM Gunner
Walter A Zablocki T/Sgt IL Flight Engineer

CREW OF 41-24121 – KIA

Nelson R Collins FLOF IN Extra co-pilot
John D Crimmins T/Sgt AL Radio operator
Edward J Haller T/Sgt CA Flight engineer
Claude H Ipher 2nd Lt PA Co-pilot
Louis M Nicholson 2nd Lt MS Bombardier
Victor E Olliffe 1st Lt CA Pilot
Edgar J Pearson S/Sgt NY Tail gunner
Harry R Savage 1st Lt MI Navigator

SURVIVORS OF 41-24121

Captured and spent the duration of the war in a German POW camp.

Clifford Koon S/Sgt MS Gunner
Eugene Engdahl S/Sgt CA Gunner
Harold R Murray S/Sgt NJ Gunner

SOURCES

Wikipedia
Millard County Chronicle - 1942-11-19, 1943-01-07, 1943-03-25, 1943-04-01, 1943-08-19, 1943-11-24, 1947-01-09, 1947-02-06, 1947-02-13, 1950-01-19
Utah Digital newspapers
Ancestry.com
Fold3
Familysearch.org
_Salt Lake Telegram _- 1943-03-23
Salt Lake City Tribune – 1950-01-21
The Story of the 93rd Bomb Group

Hugh R Roper