2008 Woodie Awards
Honoring an American Hero
After 64 years Thomas B. Roberts was finally awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Issue date: 10/13/06 Section: News
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On Sept. 27, a great American hero was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University after engaging in a secret mission of vital importance over sixty years ago.
Thomas B. Roberts enlisted into the United States Army on Jan. 2, 1942, less than one month after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In less than three years in the armed services Roberts was involved in campaigns in Tunisia, Sicily, Egypt, Libya, the Air Offensive in Europe, Algeria, and the French Morocco. He flew fifty-two missions in the B-17 Flying Fortress as the Ball-Turret Operator, Radio Operator, Aerial Engineer, and Aerial Gunner.
Roberts was not rightfully awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross until nearly sixty-four years after the fact because of a fire in 1973 that destroyed ever eighteen million Army military personnel records located in St. Louis. Roberts' records were destroyed, but there were alternative sources that contained information used to reconstruct his service record. After years of reconstruction it was pieced together and shown that due to Roberts extreme heroism during two high altitude missions he was entitled to the award.
Roberts was perfect for the job as Ball-Turret Operator because of his size and was often used because taller soldiers could not crawl or fit inside the ball. "I didn't volunteer for this position I was just the smallest member of the crew," said Roberts. The Ball-Turret Operator sits in an aluminum and Plexiglas ball that is located underneath the B-17. Many crewmembers have looked at this position as suicidal due to its seemingly exposed and rather precarious position. The ball rotates in a fixed position allowing the operator a 360-degree view underneath the plane.
During the North African Campaign on November 6, 1942, Staff Sergeant Roberts was the first to see four JU-88's attack the single, unescorted B-17. As the Ball-Turret Operator, Roberts was able to bring his guns into action with quickness and precision that protected the ship and greatly contributed to the overall success of the mission. The top secret mission was escorting two well known heroes General J.H. Doolittle and General Lyman Lemnitzer.
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