Top Story>>Base Commander presents Distinguished Flying Cross

By Senior Airman Nathan Allen
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

U.S. Army Air Corps Veteran Capt. Joe Roop was presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross by Col. Greg Otey, 19th Airlift Wing commander, during a ceremony at the Woodland Park World War II Memorial in Hot Springs Village, Ark. April 10.

The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded for exhibiting heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Other recipients of the medal include former President George H.W. Bush, Senator John McCain, General of the Air Force (retired) Henry “Hap” Arnold, Retired U.S. Senator and Astronaut John Glenn, Brigadier General (retired) Chuck Yeager, Orville and Wilbur Wright and Amelia Earhart.

Originally from Paint Lick, Kentucky, Captain Roop now joins that elite list for his involvement during several bombing missions during World War II. Captain Roop’s plane, the B-25H, was named the "Lola Mae” after his then girlfriend and now wife Lola. The B-25 was a twin engine medium bomber equipped with 12 machine guns and capable of carrying up to 6,000 pounds of bombs. During Operation Galvanic and Operation Flintlock, B-25s were used to bomb the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, paving the way for the Allied forces invasion – operations that marked the opening of the American drive across the pacific that would eventually end the war. Captain Roop’s bombing of enemy supply facilities, shipping assets, aircrafts and airfields enabled the “island hopping” strategy of capturing and establishing overlapping island bases and air control in the Pacific. By capturing certain key islands until Japan came within range of American bombers, the B-29 Superfortress was able to bomb the Japanese mainland and save millions of lives by avoiding a long drawn out war.

Though Captain Roop claims he is rarely a man of few words, he was left speechless and overwhelmed by the efforts made to honor him.

“It’s just a wonderful, wonderful experience that I never felt that I’d ever have. I’m very honored.”

When Captain Roop was first informed he had received the award, he had a very humble suggestion for how he should receive the award. 19th Airlift Wing executive officer 1st Lt. Adam McGhee was told by Captain Roop to simply put it in the mail and send it to him.

According to Colonel Otey, however, that simply would not do.

“I told Lieutenant McGhee we simply could not do that if there was a way we could present it in person,” he said. “To get to pin a Distinguished Flying Cross on a World War II veteran will always be a highlight of my Air Force career.”