Knapp, Roger Singleton
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Roger Singleton |
Surname | Knapp |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 20-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Thomas Achilles Knapp and Helen Emily Knapp (née Fugmann), of Galveston, Texas, USA. Husband of Elma Rose Knapp (née Machan), whom he married on 31 October 1943 at Toronto. Father of two children. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington III |
Serial Number | BK463 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | St. Pol War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Row E. Grave 9. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 60 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/37758 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 93 |
Squadron | 83 OTU |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United States of America |
Miscellaneous Information
Roger was born on 16 April 1918 at Galveston, Texas. His father was born in Kentucky, a retired messenger/despatcher and his mother was born in Germany (both American citizens). He had one brother Thomas and a sister Melanie who died in 1941. Roger went to Island School 1925-1932, Lovenberg Jnr. High, Galveston 1932-1934, and Ball High School, 1934-1936. He then attended Draughon Business College 1936-1937. He worked for the National Hotel Company, Galveston as a day clerk, 1939-1940 and also as a Bellman. Roger’s sport interests were tennis, baseball and golf and he was a professional golfer for eight years. His hobby, model aeroplane building. |
He enlisted on 11 June 1941, while the US was still neutral. He did not qualify from SFTS but stated that he preferred to stay in Canada and not return to the US to enlist. In April 1943, the recruiting officer commented that his motivation was 'quite beyond reproach' and supported his request to remuster for other aircrew detail. He had offered to waive his US citizenship although there is no evidence that he was required to do so. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 19-05-1944 |
End Date | 20-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Peplow |
Day/Night Raid | Night (7% moon) |
Operation | Nickel operation over France |
Reason for Loss | While dropping leaflets over northern France, the aircraft crashed at Eps in the Pas-de-Calais region |