1934 University grad, track and field captain Roger Newberry perished as hero as World War II Spitfire pilot (part 2 of 2)

Apr. 23—Note: Part 2 of a two-part series on 1934 University graduate and track and field team captain Roger Newberry. (Part 1)

Roger Newberry's University resume was stellar as he received his diploma in 1934.

He was an eight-time letterman across three sports, highlighted by his track and field work, along with four years in orchestra playing violin, three years on student council, two years in choir and was part of US' Cum Laude Society as a senior.

"Larger pages for the Mabian this year were proposed in order to include all of Roger's activities and his picture, but with a good deal of compressing the act was accomplished on the regular size sheet," the 1934 yearbook staff lauded in Newberry's senior profile. "... One of the wonders of the school is how Roger manages to do all that he does and keep such hours. At school from the break of dawn to late in the evening, he must have an iron physique."

Like 10 previous Newberrys including his great-great-great grandfather Roger, who graduated from there in 1726, Newberry followed the family path to Yale.

He captained Yale's 150-pound crew and was part of the team for three years.

Among the highlights of Newberry's collegiate crew career came in the summer of 1936.

"Sailing today on the Aquitania for what will be an unforgettable trip will be Roger Newberry, son of Mrs. William B. Newberry," the Cleveland News reported June 15, 1936. "He and the Yale lightweight crew of which Roger is captain are headed for Henley, England, to participate in the royal regatta, which will be from June 29 to July 2."

Newberry graduated from Yale's engineering school in 1938 and went to work right after Yale throughout Ohio with Otis Elevator as a junior salesman.

But with World War II intensifying on the battlefronts, Newberry elected to forgo his career at Otis in Columbus in favor of the armed forces.

"I have decided, along with many other University School alumni, that voluntary enlistment is the better course for me," Newberry wrote US headmaster Harry Peters on March 31, 1941. "I have chosen to apply as soon as possible for appointment as a Flying Cadet in the Army Air Corps. ... I believe that with your help I can secure an appointment which will lead to a highly valuable training. I shall owe you many thanks for this favor."

He enlisted at 24 in Columbus on July 15, 1941, Peters' recommendation in tow.

"Mr. Newberry was a member of this school for six years and during his stay here exhibited such superior qualities in scholarship, extra-curricular activities and gentlemanly behavior that I can recommend him to you unreservedly," Peters stated.

Newberry was commissioned at Foster Field in Texas in the Air Corps Advanced Flying School in February 1942, then went to Myrtle Beach and the 55th Pursuit Squadron.

"Just got my wings last Friday at Victoria, Texas — and oh boy — am I happy!" Newberry wrote in a postcard from Myrtle Beach to US teacher Vera Breyley.

By June 1942, Newberry was based at Grenier Field in Manchester, N.H., telling the US alumni department: "I am a second lieutenant in the Army Air Forces, with the rating of pilot. I am flying a P-39 airplane in a fighter unit, learning how to do combat in the air."

From there, Newberry went overseas, training in Spitfire fighter planes until October.

On Nov. 29, 1942, Newberry arrived in Tunisia in the North African combat theater and rose to the rank of First Lieutenant on Dec. 10.

By this time, he was a key member of the 2nd Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group.

The 52nd is honored in the Museum of the United States Air Force Memorial Park, with a plaque that reads: "During the North African campaign, the squadron carried out harbor and airfield patrols, fighter sweeps and escort missions for cargo planes, medium bombers, attack planes and fighter bombers."

Newberry's piloting in his Spitfire over the skies of Tunisia was so notable he received a mention in an Associated Press dispatch in early December 1942, via the Cleveland News.

"A Cleveland Heights resident is among the heroic Spitfire pilots based at the most advanced American airfield in Tunisia," the dispatch read in part. "... Mentioned as one of the pilots whose working day begins at 5 a.m. and ends at 6:30 p.m. was Second Lieutenant Roger C. Newberry.

"The fighter group makes at least one sweep over the enemy lines each day from a muddy, crowded strip harassed by enemy planes."

Newberry briefly headed to a rest area that month from his flying but returned to the war front by February 1943.

On Feb. 10, 1943, he wrote a letter back home to his mother, stating, "I've had lots of scraps and narrow escapes, but everything is just fine with me."

That would be the last time Mary would hear from her son.

Flying a mission over Gafsa, in central Tunisia, on Feb. 17, 1943, Newberry's plane was shot down by a German fighter pilot. The engagement is cited in the 1996 John Weal book "FW 190 Aces of the Western Front."

"A fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces, First Lieutenant Roger C. Newberry, 26, is reported missing in North Africa, according to a message received today by his mother," the Cleveland News reported March 3, 1943.

With uncertainty over her son's fate, Peters wrote Mary, who responded March 16.

"Your note expressing your affectionate regard for Roger and interest in his present plight brought me comfort," Mary said. "That is about all anyone can do. Several inquiries have gone out. ... So many things may have happened that it is useless to surmise. I can but hope and pray that he may return to normal life."

Peters wrote again to tell Mary in late March the school had held a service for the six US grads to date killed in action in World War II, as well as commemorating the two, Newberry included, who were at that point missing in action.

"The boys participated in very fine spirit, and a number of people have told me that it was a very worthwhile occasion," Peters wrote.

April 3, Mary sent Newberry's US sweater with insignia to the school. Peters passed along to staff that Mary "would like awfully well that somebody who might need it or like it could have it." Because it was a differing style than the current sweater, it later went to the son of a member of the day camp staff, who was said to be "very glad to get it."

Eight days later, the War Department in Washington officially deemed Newberry killed in action. He was a little more than five months shy of his 27th birthday.

"Lieutenant Newberry died a hero while flying a Spitfire in the North Africa area Feb. 17," the Plain Dealer reported in its April 11, 1943 edition. "He was awarded the Army Air Medal and two oak leaf clusters for action in the air."

Mary had received word of the air medal and clusters the day prior.

"Roger had seen more action against the enemy than we will ever know," Mary told the PD. "I am very proud of his service record."

Because Newberry and his plane were never recovered, he is memorialized at home and abroad.

In the Newberry family plot at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, a worn marker on one side of a main headstone in Section 2 reads: "In Memory Of First Lieutenant Roger Cleveland Newberry, United States Army Air Forces. Son of William B. and Mary Louise Van Winkle Newberry. Born July 29, 1916. Killed in action Feb. 17, 1943, when his Spitfire was shot down near Gafsa, North Africa."

Newberry is also listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Carthage, Tunisia.

Mary received further word in September 1943 of an additional oak leaf cluster being awarded for her son's service.

Newberry lost his father before reaching high school.

He made a key to open the US office door and, out of reverence to administration and the school, kept it a secret so others couldn't capitalize upon it.

He cared so much about his scholarship he didn't want preferential treatment while working toward it.

And at US, at Yale and finally in service to his country, Newberry distinguished himself as an example, the "last full measure of devotion" for all time.

"He has always been an influence for good," Peters wrote in his 1934 Yale scholarship recommendation letter, "going out of his way to do things for the good of the school, irrespective of their effect on his personal popularity."