During a mission with target Leverkusen Germany, the crew of 10 in a B-17 "Flying Fortress", serialnumber 41-24511, nickname “Wheel n Deal“, was hit by Flak. SGT Roller was last seen while trying to bail out at the escape hatch in the tail section of the aircraft.
The aircraft came down near the Rhine River in the vicinity of Düsseldorf. SGT Roller was the only one who did not manage to bail out on time. The other 9 crewmembers survived the crash and became POW. Finally they returned to the U.S. Aircraft crashed in Rhine River near Düsseldorf, Germany.

Aircraft data:
Serialnumber: 41-24511
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Wheel n Deal
Target: Leverkusen, Germany
Missing Air Crew Report (MACR): 1323

Wheel N Deal
322nd Squadron
2LT John Wennerberg's Crew

Back row - left to right
SGT Charles Grubb, Gunner
SGT William E. Roller, Radio Operator/Gunner
SGT Morris Schendleman, Tail Gunner
SGT Stanley T. Kacprzyk, Left Waist Gunner
SGT William Cole, Right Waist Gunner

Front row - left to right
2LT John W. Temple, Bombardier
2LT Eugene Cohalan, Navigator
2LT John T. Wennerberg, Pilot
LT William Myers, Co-pilot

Original Crew.

SGT William E. Roller was Killed In Action (K.I.A.) on December 1, 1943 and the other crewmembers became POW. 2LT Robert A. Dickson was co-pilot as replacement of 2LT William F. Myers. SSGT Nick J. Nicoletti was radio operator as replacement of SSGT Charles W. Grubb during the mission of December 1st 1943. SGT Squire Baker, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner is not on the photo above.

Family:
Blanche Everett (Aunt)
Carol (Roller) Dahl (Niece)
Chris Ann Roller (Niece)
Gail (Roller) McCarthy (Niece)
Photo contributed by Carol (Roller) Dahl.