[Eugene P. Roberts oral history interview]

Fighter ace Eugene P. Roberts discusses his military service with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He describes his wartime experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time in England with the 84th Fighter Squadron of the 78th Fighter Group. Special focus on a bomber withdrawal mission over the Netherlands on July 30, 1943 in which Roberts and his squadron scored several aerial victories. Roberts notes that this was the first mission in which his squadron utilized belly tanks, allowing them to fly farther into mainland Europe and surprise German forces.

Eugene P. Roberts was born on September 12, 1917 in Wallace, Idaho and grew up in Spokane, Washington. He joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1940 and graduated from flight training the following year. After an initial assignment with the 20th Pursuit Group, Roberts joined the 14th Fighter Group, later split into the 78th Fighter Group. He served with the group in England as commander of the 84th Fighter Squadron, flying missions over Belgium, the Netherlands, and other areas of the European Theater. Roberts subsequently served with VIII Fighter Command, the 67th Fighter Wing, and as commander of the 364th Fighter Group. After the end of World War II, he left active duty but remained in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a colonel in 1963. In his civilian life, he worked as a stockbroker until his retirement in 1982. Roberts passed away in 2008.