Roger Wells Drinkwalter

Drinkwalter,
Roger
Roger Drinkwalter….
an Officer and
a Gentleman
SAN DIEGO --
Roger Drinkwalter,
WWII B-17 pilot, POW,
businessman, loving
husband, proud father
and grandfather, died
Monday, January 13,
2014, with his family at
his side.
Roger was born April
15, 1922 in Zumbro
Falls, Minnesota, and
raised on a farm. As
WWII broke out, like
many young men his age,
he signed up for duty.
The USAF (Army Air
Corp at the time) was the
place for him. With pilot
training in sunny
Southern California in
the winter, he embarked
on a journey he could
have only dreamt of. He
reported for Active Duty
to Jefferson Barracks,
MO, February 19, 1943.
After pilot training he
was transferred to the
390th Bomb Group,
Framlingham, England
(13th wing) where he
picked up his plane, the
Belle of the Brawl. On
his 10th mission he was
shot down, found by the
enemy and was a POW in
Stalag Luft #1, Barth,
Germany from January 5,
1945 until he was
liberated by the Russian
Army April 29, 1945.
His USAF career ended
as a Lt. Col. (Ret) 20