Show Capt Roper Missing In Flight Over Rumania Returning Pilot writes He Saw Sow 2 Planes Crashed And Opened Parachutes Captain Hugh R. R Roper son of Mr and Mrs Abel M. M Roper of Oak City is reported missing In action action In the middle eastern area since August 1 on a bombing mission to the oil fields of Roumania This raid was described as the most daring and largest mass raid of the war A round trip of or 2400 miles made entirely by Liberator bombers unescorted About the last letter from Crom Raw- Raw Un In England he had three more missions to fly when he would be retired but shortly after that he was transferred to Africa to prepare prepare prepare pre pre- pare for the raid on Rome He wrote of the thrill and excitement of that raid in which he was giVen given given en the honor of leading his group of Liberators He wrote that he enjoyed enjoyed enjoyed en en- joyed the change from England as ashe ashe ashe he felt better 0 o be out Gut in the desert desert desert des des- ert sunshine He said it was like pitching your tent about half way bet between veen Oak City and Delta but the Mediterranean was handy for fora a refreshing swim and the nights were beautiful He told of how he and his pal Walter WaIter Stewart were planning on visiting Palestine soon Stewart is a brother of or Otto R. R Stewart known in Delta In the bee industry They had met two other Mormon boys returned missionaries and were planning on holding a meeting on August 1 the day the raid occurred The following is a letter in part received Tuesday Aug 17 from Walter Waller T. T Stewart Somewhere in Middle East August 9 1943 Dear Mr and Mrs Roper and all By now I trust youve you've received word that Hugh Is missing in ac ac- ac- ac tion This is something Ive I've prayed Id 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 Eked to fly off Rawlin so I couldn't couldn't couldn't could could- nt stay on him I had a leaky gas tank so I had to slow down I couldn't keep up We Ve 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 hornet homel One fellow saw several parachutes parachutes parachutes pa pa- on the ground also This Is all I know I wish it were more If I find out anything Ill I'll let you know Immediately I do have faith alth that he and most of his crew as well as the other crew are safe If any man could have escaped and could have enabled enabled enabled en en- his crew to escape your son could could he he was the best pilot I have ever known Of all the friends Ive I've had Hugh is the dearest Ive I've never known a aman aman aman man who had so much universal respect from his fellow soldiers as did Hugh May God In Heaven give you OU comfort Lt Walter Waller T. T Stewart |