The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. R A Drapper

Roy Alfred Drapper was born in October 1920, the son of Alfred Richard Drapper and Amy Winifred Whitmore.

He joined the RAFVR in July 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September he completed his training and was posted from 7 OTU Hawarden on 8th August 1940 to 232 Squadron at Castletown.

He was involved in an accident with a loaded pistol in the crew-room on 5th September and was admitted to hospital with a foot wound.

Commissioned from Warrant Officer on 23rd July 1942, Drapper joined 4 Squadron, a photographic reconnaissance unit, in June 1944.

On 9th June 1944 he married Betty Mary Bryant (1924–2021) in Lewisham, London.

He was killed on 9th August 1944 when Spitfire PRXI PL831 caught fire and crashed near Petersfield after taking off from Odiham on a PR sortie to Evreux.

Drapper was 23. He was cremated at St John's Crematorium, Woking.