Roger Carleton Randles was born on June 5, 1925 in Concord, California, and graduated from high school in the class of 1943. He entered military service and graduated from Bombardier School at Albuquerque Army Air Field, New Mexico in Class 44-09. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and presented Bombardier wings.

Roger was assigned to the 563rd Bomb Squadron of the 388th Bomb Group, located at Knettishall, England. He was assigned to the Daniels' crew. He flew 3 missions.

On November 26, 1944, the 388th Bomb Group participated in a mission to bomb the synthetic fuel facilities as Misburg, Germany, as well as the railway marshalling yards at Hamm. The mission was designed to fly toward Berlin, making the Luftwaffe believe that was the target and to keep their fighters in reserve. The formation would take a sharp right turn and head for the primary target.

For various reasons, the group arrived some 25 minutes late, so the attacking German fighters hit the rear end of the bomber stream. Heavy flak was encountered over the target. Approximately 10 seconds from "Bombs Away, " pilot Daniels stated he was receiving an indication that the bomb bay doors were not open. The bombardier checked with the radio operator who stated they were open.

At the same time, 2 close bursts of flak threw the aircraft upward. Then, a third burst hit directly in the fuselage, near the left wing root. The cockpit filled with smoke, the pilot attempted a left bank, and the aircraft exploded, hurling the survivors free. Five of the crew made it to the ground and were captured; the remaining 4 were either killed by the flak or died in the explosion.

Lt. Randles' body was recovered by German troops and buried near the crash site which was near Heesen, Germany. He is now buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin, USA. 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: airforce.togetherweserved.com
Photo from: http://388bg.com