Russell joined the U.S. Navy December 27, 1940. He went to "boot camp" at U.S. Naval Training Center Great Lakes, Illinois, from there he went to Aviation Ordnance School at Jacksonville, Florida. Upon completion of training he was assigned to Bombing Squadron Eight (VB-8) aboard the USS Hornet, CV-8. He was aboard the Hornet when General Doolittle led a flight of B-25 Bombers on a strike against Japan. He participated in the Battle of Midway and was on the Hornet when it was sank during the battle of Vera Cruz. After the sinking of the Hornet, he was assigned to the aviation unit aboard the USS Halford, (DD480). After seven months aboard the Halford, he was assigned to Scout Observation Service Unit #1 aboard the USS New Mexico. While in this unit he participated in the bombardment of Gilbert Islands (Makin Atoll), Marshall Islands (Kwajalien Atoll, Maleolap Atoll, and Wotje Atoll) and Kavieng, New Ireland. In August 1944 he was transferred to the U.S. Naval Air Station, Hutchinson, Kansas, his home town. While at Hutchinson he was sent to Aircraft Turret School at Jacksonville, Florida. Upon completion of this school he retuned to USNAS Hutchinson. He was killed in an aircraft accident May 28, 1945. Two airplanes collided, on a foggy night, near the airfield while practicing landings. Russell was riding in one of the planes, as a passenger, to acquire flight hours needed to receive flight pay.
[ELR]
Their Record
Reno County World War II
Bob Campbell Post VFW
Hutchinson, Kansas
(page – 27)
Russell Edwin Roberts, AOM 1/c, Naval Air force killed in crash of a bomber plane, a mid-air collision of two Liberator bombers, 8 miles southeast of the Hutchinson naval air station, May 28, 1945, 13 crewmen of the two ships being killed. He had been in the service 4 ½ years, enlisting Dec. 27, 1940. He served four years on the Pacific; in action in the Southwest Pacific area on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, a survivor when that ship was sunk and also on the USS Halford and battleship USS New Mexico. He participated in twelve major battles, and was shot down three times, escaping each battle experience only to be killed later in an accident only a few miles from his home. After service in the Pacific theater he returned to the states Sept. 1944 and in February 1945 transferred to Hutchinson naval air station. Son of Mr. Pearl R. Roberts, 1128 East B.
[ELR]
Their Record
Reno County World War II
Bob Campbell Post VFW
Hutchinson, Kansas
(page – 27)
Russell Edwin Roberts, AOM 1/c, Naval Air force killed in crash of a bomber plane, a mid-air collision of two Liberator bombers, 8 miles southeast of the Hutchinson naval air station, May 28, 1945, 13 crewmen of the two ships being killed. He had been in the service 4 ½ years, enlisting Dec. 27, 1940. He served four years on the Pacific; in action in the Southwest Pacific area on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, a survivor when that ship was sunk and also on the USS Halford and battleship USS New Mexico. He participated in twelve major battles, and was shot down three times, escaping each battle experience only to be killed later in an accident only a few miles from his home. After service in the Pacific theater he returned to the states Sept. 1944 and in February 1945 transferred to Hutchinson naval air station. Son of Mr. Pearl R. Roberts, 1128 East B.
Russell joined the U.S. Navy December 27, 1940. He went to "boot camp" at U.S. Naval Training Center Great Lakes, Illinois, from there he went to Aviation Ordnance School at Jacksonville, Florida. Upon completion of training he was assigned to Bombing Squadron Eight (VB-8) aboard the USS Hornet, CV-8. He was aboard the Hornet when General Doolittle led a flight of B-25 Bombers on a strike against Japan. He participated in the Battle of Midway and was on the Hornet when it was sank during the battle of Vera Cruz. After the sinking of the Hornet, he was assigned to the aviation unit aboard the USS Halford, (DD480). After seven months aboard the Halford, he was assigned to Scout Observation Service Unit #1 aboard the USS New Mexico. While in this unit he participated in the bombardment of Gilbert Islands (Makin Atoll), Marshall Islands (Kwajalien Atoll, Maleolap Atoll, and Wotje Atoll) and Kavieng, New Ireland. In August 1944 he was transferred to the U.S. Naval Air Station, Hutchinson, Kansas, his home town. While at Hutchinson he was sent to Aircraft Turret School at Jacksonville, Florida. Upon completion of this school he retuned to USNAS Hutchinson. He was killed in an aircraft accident May 28, 1945. Two airplanes collided, on a foggy night, near the airfield while practicing landings. Russell was riding in one of the planes, as a passenger, to acquire flight hours needed to receive flight pay.
[ELR]
Their Record
Reno County World War II
Bob Campbell Post VFW
Hutchinson, Kansas
(page – 27)
Russell Edwin Roberts, AOM 1/c, Naval Air force killed in crash of a bomber plane, a mid-air collision of two Liberator bombers, 8 miles southeast of the Hutchinson naval air station, May 28, 1945, 13 crewmen of the two ships being killed. He had been in the service 4 ½ years, enlisting Dec. 27, 1940. He served four years on the Pacific; in action in the Southwest Pacific area on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, a survivor when that ship was sunk and also on the USS Halford and battleship USS New Mexico. He participated in twelve major battles, and was shot down three times, escaping each battle experience only to be killed later in an accident only a few miles from his home. After service in the Pacific theater he returned to the states Sept. 1944 and in February 1945 transferred to Hutchinson naval air station. Son of Mr. Pearl R. Roberts, 1128 East B.
[ELR]
Their Record
Reno County World War II
Bob Campbell Post VFW
Hutchinson, Kansas
(page – 27)
Russell Edwin Roberts, AOM 1/c, Naval Air force killed in crash of a bomber plane, a mid-air collision of two Liberator bombers, 8 miles southeast of the Hutchinson naval air station, May 28, 1945, 13 crewmen of the two ships being killed. He had been in the service 4 ½ years, enlisting Dec. 27, 1940. He served four years on the Pacific; in action in the Southwest Pacific area on the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, a survivor when that ship was sunk and also on the USS Halford and battleship USS New Mexico. He participated in twelve major battles, and was shot down three times, escaping each battle experience only to be killed later in an accident only a few miles from his home. After service in the Pacific theater he returned to the states Sept. 1944 and in February 1945 transferred to Hutchinson naval air station. Son of Mr. Pearl R. Roberts, 1128 East B.
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