Eugene Roscoe Harper was born in Lincoln, Kansas on March 19, 1921, according to the inscription on the National World War II Monument. No NARA enlistment records have been located for him. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp, qualified for flight duty, and was sent to aerial gunnery school. Promoted to Sergeant, he was assigned to the newly-activated 388th Bomb Group and deployed with the unit to Knettishall, England in July, 1943.

As part of the crew headed by Lt. Felece, he flew 5 missions. Three of these were aborted and he received no credit. One more mission was completed, and then he flew the ill-fated mission in which he was shot down.

On October 2, 1943, the Felece crew was scheduled as part of a raid on the Hispano Aero Engine Works at Emden, Germany. When over the target, they found the target obscured by clouds, so began dropping their bombs one at a time. The crew completed their bomb release and was returning to England when the aircraft was hit by flak. This explosion damaged both the # 1 and # 2 engines. The aircraft dropped from formation, went into a tight spiral dive, and crashed into the North Sea just off the Danish coast. All 10 crew members managed to bail out, but they landed in the North Sea and were drowned. Several bodies were eventually recovered. SSgt Harper was returned to the U.S. where he lies in the Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, airforce.togetherweserved.com