Roger W Armstrong

Military
Roger Armstrong a, radio operator of the 91st Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97851) nicknamed "Qualified Quail". A veteran has Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Roger Armstrong (Sioux Falls, S. Dak.), Radio Operator on "Qualified Quail." Shot down from 13th Air Base stationed at, on 13th mission, flew 1st mission on 13th Sept. 1944 and group lost 13 planes (including the spare plane we were flying) Nov. 2. 1944. (Meseberg). Lucky day, as plane that moved into the #3 position, on media-408102.jpg FRE 3529 Roger Armstrong a, radio operator of the 91st Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97851) nicknamed "Qualified Quail". A veteran has Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Roger Armstrong (Sioux Falls, S. Dak.), Radio Operator on "Qualified Quail." Shot down from 13th Air Base stationed at, on 13th mission, flew 1st mission on 13th Sept. 1944 and group lost 13 planes (including the spare plane we were flying) Nov. 2. 1944. (Meseberg). Lucky day, as plane that moved into the #3 position, on lead ship, took direct hit and all perished at target. We were flying #3 on lead ship when shot down by lone flak tower prior to the target. We were flying next to Paul Chryst on 11-2-44.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 3529 - Roger Armstrong a, radio operator of the 91st Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97851) nicknamed "Qualified Quail". A...

Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed on 11/2/44 at Westeroden in B-17 #446093.



When Roger bailed out, he was greeted by the local German civilians, (who were very hostile), and they waved their pitch forks at him. Fortunately, German soldiers arrived and saved him from a potential altercation or harm.



Roger Armstrong later wrote a book about his wartime experiences, entitled 'USA The Hard Way', which was the name of the B-17 in which he and his crew were shot down (S/N 44-6093). He normally flew on the "Qualified Quail" (SN 42-97851), a B-17G with the 401st Squadron, 91st Bomber Group, starting 8th September 1944. The "Qualified Quail" was heavily damaged on the previous mission, and the crew was forced to switch aircraft for the November 2nd assault on Merseburg. The plane caught fire due to enemy flak, and the crew was forced to bail out. Armstrong was captured by German farmers, interrogated by officers of the Luftwaffe, and incarcerated at Stalag Luft 1. His book has since received high praise from historians of the period.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-761845
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Lieutenant Anthony Delaporto a navigator of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group with a camera. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'Anthony Delaporto, Navigator, Qualified Quail. Fall 1944. 91st Bomb Group. Country Club of the E.T.O. 1 of 3 not KIA or injured.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Qualified Quail
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 91st Bomb Group led by Lieutenant John J Askins, with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Qualified Quail". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew of "Qualified Quail", Triangle-A, LL-K, Back Row: L to R; Antony Delaporto, Navigator; John J. Askins, Pilot; Randal Archer, Co-Pilot; Paul Collier, Bombardier. Front Row: Roger Armstron[g], Radio; Rob[er]t Webb, Ball Gunner; Hilmer Beicker, Engineer; Ralph Azevedo, Armorer/Gunner; Roy Loyless, Tail Gunner.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: USA The Hard Way
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron

Places

Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA 7 October 1922

Enlisted

Jefferson Barracks, 533 Grant Road, Saint Louis, MO 63125, États-Unis 31 January 1943

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 2 November 1944

Died

11 July 2002

Revisions

Date
Contributorpdaskins
Changes
Sources

Biography edited to correct factual errors and add additional details, sourced from Roger Armstrong's book (USA The Hard Way). Previous version stated Armstrong as flying in a famous B-17, "Jub-Jub Bird" , which is incorrect. I believe this mistake might have occurred due to the fact that the "Jub-Jub Bird" was shot down on the same mission as was Armstrong (per USA The Hard Way).

Date
Changes
Sources

Biography completed by historian Helen Millgate. Information sourced from newsletters of the 91st Bomb Group related to the service of Roger Armstrong.

Date
ContributorAAMB Memory Book
Changes
Sources

Biographical detail c/o Howard N Tanner, via American Air Museum Memory Book Correspondence.

Date
ContributorPat Flyer
Changes
Sources

Research for "B-17G Qualified Quail - I'll Bring Them Home !"

Date
ContributorPat Flyer
Changes
Sources

Research for "B-17G Qualified Quail - I'll Bring Them Home !"

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 10141 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Roger W Armstrong: Gallery (3 items)