As a youth, he was raised on a ranch near Santa Rosa, California. When his parents separated, he and his siblings lived with an English couple. While working at the railroad he wanted to be able to serve in defence of his country, so he took up Civilian Military Training. He also managed to earn a pilots' licence and attempted to join the Army Air Corps. He was turned down on the basis that his job was considered vital to the country and exempted him from military service. Roy then contacted the Clayton-Knight Committee, which was recruiting pilots for the RAF. He was accepted and went to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for training.



He earned the rank of Pilot Officer, and was the only one of his class to graduate as a fighter pilot. He then went to England for further training with the RAF at an Operational Training Unit. Again he excelled, and was the only one of his class to be assigned to No. 11 Group in the south of England, where the action was.



The military equipment he received, although it was the best available was unfortunately, well worn from the Battle of Britain - he flew a war-weary Spitfire which not very air worthy.

Roy loved to go on strafing trips, sometimes accompanied by Duane Beeson and sometimes with Frank Smolinski.



With news of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and since he was in an Eagle Squadron, he shortly found himself in the 4th Fighter Group with plenty of action, flying P-47s and later P-51s.

On one occasion Roy was leading an escort mission to Paris where the Group destroyed 17 German aircraft, a record number for one day. Having finished their escort duties and beingmindful of their low fuel situation they headed back toward England. They encountered a bomber group which was very late and unescorted, and about to be attacked by a large formation of German fighters. The Group turned into the Germans in a spread formation and from a long distance, though low on gas, they started firing their guns, knowing full well that the Germans were out of range. This attack caused the Germans to turn and run for home. The bombers then turned and followed the fighters safely back to England. Roy received the Silver Star for this action.



As time went on Roy became an "Ace", on the same mission, incidentally, as his friend Duane Beeson. He became C.O. of the 335th Squadron and attained the rank of Colonel. After his tour of 300 combat hours he applied for, and was allowed an additional 25 hours before his mandatory return to the States.



He was proud of the fact that no German ever put a bullet hole in his plane, but he did, however, have to bail out over the North Sea due to Flak damage. His aircraft AA752 a Spitfire from 4FG/335FS experienced a mechanical failure on a 'Rhubarb' to the French coast and he ditched into the English Channel, but managed to swim ashore near Foulness, Essex and returned to duty. He was a 1Lt at the time.



After Roy's last flight with the 4th, Colonel Blakeslee told him General Anderson wanted to see him. General Anderson thanked him for his outstanding service and introduced him to eight others, all Generals or Colonels, who likewise thanked him. Officially, he ended that tour with three Distinguished Flying Crosses, Purple Heart, and 11 Air Medals in addition to his Silver Star and other awards including the Distinguished Unit Award.



Tiring of the Stateside duty he was soon returned to England as Deputy C.O. of the 359th Fighter Group, becoming acting C.O. until he was hit by Flak in P-51D Mustang 44-14894 'Lucky' 14-2-45, and became a POW. He had the dubious distinction of being the last of 37 Eagle squadron pilots to do so. His imprisonment caused him to go from a weight of 225 pounds to 167 pounds until he was liberated.