An apprentice at the John Deere Co. Roger was called up in November 1941, trained as an armourer and went overseas with the 31st FG the very first to arrive in England. Initially equipped with the Spitfire Mark V they provided escort for the medium bombers. In October 1942 they were transferred to the 12thAF in North Africa to cover the Allied landings, then moved to Sicily and - eventually - Foggia, equipped with the P-51. Discharged in May 1945 he was employed for 32 years by the Red Jacket Pump Co. as draftsman, purchasing agent and project engineer.