Roland Arthur Graton was born on May 2, 1914 in Derry, New Hampshire. He was the son of Benjamin Graton and Matilda Laudry. He served in the 552nd Bomber Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium, as a Staff Sergeant and Engineer on the B-26 Marauder #41-31586 RG*U during World War II.

On March 3, 1944, their plane took off from Station 164 at Great Dunmow (Little Easton), England on a mission to attack the base of V1 planes in Marquenneville, France. While returning from the mission at 5:45PM, the plane was hit by flak and ignited. The pilot ordered the evacuation from the aircraft and four of them succesfully bailed out. The navigator attempted to force land but the aircraft spinned and crashed at Buigny-Lès-Gamaches - 12 km southeast of Le Tréport, France, killing the Pilot and the Navigator. SSgt Graton was captured at Tilloy-Floriville and was sent to Stalag Luft 4 in Gross Tychow, Germany.

B-26 Marauder #43-34318 crew members:
1Lt Jesse Carl Higgins, Jr. - Pilot
1Lt James Henry Croggon 'Pete' Solley - Bombardier/Navigator
2Lt Robert A. Reed - CoPilot
S/Sgt Richard Henry Green - Machine Gunner
S/Sgt Emanuel Bernard Spero - Radio Operator
S/Sgt Roland Arthur Graton - Engineer

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net,