Comer Roger Drake

Name:

Roger Drake Comer

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-700353

Unit:

600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-05-19

State:

Minnesota

Cemetery:

Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Ličge, Ličge, Belgium

Plot:

C

Row:

12

Grave:

16

Decoration:

Purple Heart

Comments:

Roger Drake Comer was born on November 14, 1916, in Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. He was the son of Elmer Waldemar Comer and Mabel Keith Comer. He served in the 600th Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of B-17 #42-97339 during World War II.

On May 19, 1944, during a bombing mission over Berlin, the aircraft was brought down after being struck by anti-aircraft fire and debris from another plane. It crashed near Alt-Rüdnitz, now known as Stara Rudnica, Poland. Out of the ten crew members on board, eight lost their lives, while two survived and were captured as prisoners of war.

2Lt Comer was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Ličge, Ličge, Belgium. Roger D. Comer's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 18, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org