Eugene Warren Norman Roop was the son of William Ausley Roop and Edith Jetty Norman.
44th Bomber Group, 506th Bomber Squadron, 8thAir Force
Aircraft B-24J with serial number 42-7522 departed from Shipham on a bombardment mission to Bernberg, Germany.
At 1123 hours in the vicinity of Bernberg, Germany, the right bomb-bay doors failed to open. Bombs on the left side were away but on right side, fragmentation bombs hit the door causing a fire in the bomb-bay. The ship flew for a few seconds and then winged over breaking in two at the waist. Ship went down in flames and explosions. Four bodies were clear of the ship but only two chutes were seen to open. Eugene Roop was initially buried on 19 April 1944 at the cemetery of Bernburg-Roschwitz, Germany
Crew members
Pilot, 1st Lt. John D. Money
Co-Pilot, 1st Lt. Robert G. Stanos
Navigator, 1st Lt. Harold J. Wheatly
Nose-Gunner, S/Sgt. Foster A. Blake
Engineer, T/Sgt. Andrew C. Graff
Left Waist Gunner, Sgt. Wallace E. Kirschner
Radio Operator, T/Sgt. Edward A. Wernicki
Right Waist Gunner, S/Sgt. Donald L. Young
Tail Gunner, S/Sgt. Eugenen W.N. Roop
Ball Turret Gunner, S/Sgt. Herbert S. Hill Jr.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, August 18, 1949:
The body of S/Sgt W.N. Roop, 20, was to be returned to Knoxville late today from Germany where he was killed in aerial combat April 11, 1944. He was the only son of the Rev. And Mrs. W.A. Roop of Dante Road. Sgt Roop attended Powell High School before enlisting in the Air Force. He was assigned to the 44th Bomber Group, 1506th Bomber Squadron, Eight Air Force, at the time of his death.
He leaves his parents and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Roop, Route 7, Knoxville, and Mrs. Bessie Norman.
- Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Date of birth: 12 January 1924
- Date of death: 11 April 1944
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Knoxville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 44th Bomber Group, 506th Bomber Squadron
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Purple Heart, Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
- Burial/Memorial Location: Bookwalter Cemetry, Knoxville, Knox County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VIII, Middle Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Eugene W. N. Roop
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