Roy Andrew Martin was born on November 23, 1919. He was married to Janelle Henderson Martin. He served with the 338th Bombardment Squadron, 96th Bombardment Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner of B-17F #42-29767, nicknamed "Boot Hill," during World War II.

On May 17, 1943, the "Boot Hill" was shot down over Brittany, France, during a bombing mission against German military installations at Lorient. Piloted by 1Lt Louis Lafayette Haltom, the aircraft was among 20 bombers dispatched by the group that morning, departing England at approximately 8:30 a.m. Before reaching the French coast, the bomber encountered mechanical difficulties when the supercharger on its No. 3 engine failed. Despite the malfunction, Haltom continued the mission. During the bombing run, the aircraft was struck by German anti-aircraft fire, damaging its engines and right horizontal stabilizer. Although the crew managed to complete the bombing run, the damaged Flying Fortress began losing speed and altitude, gradually falling behind the main formation. While attempting to return to England, the isolated bomber came under attack from German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters, which inflicted further damage and wounded several crew members. With two engines severely damaged and the aircraft unable to maintain altitude, Haltom realized that reaching the English Channel was no longer possible and ordered his crew to bail out. The surviving airmen parachuted into the countryside of occupied Brittany before the crippled bomber crashed near Kéramprès, approximately four kilometers southeast of Plonévez-du-Faou in the Finistère department of France, at around 12:30 p.m. Of the eleven crew members aboard, two were killed, German forces captured three, and six successfully evaded capture with assistance from local French civilians and Resistance networks.

During the final moments of B-17F "Boot Hill" on May 17, 1943, S/Sgt Roy A. Martin attempted to assist fellow crew member Sgt William Martin, who had suffered an arm injury and was unable to secure his parachute. However, the aircraft suddenly entered a steep dive, pinning both men to the floor. When the tail section broke away, they were thrown from the rear of the bomber. Roy successfully deployed his parachute and landed in the French countryside, where he handed his military equipment to local civilians before reuniting with pilot 1Lt Louis Haltom in a nearby field. Later that evening, they joined Sgts Loudenslager, Wells, and Marshall. As the evaders separated into smaller groups, Roy traveled with Wells, Marshall, and William Martin to Saint-Quay, where Countess Betty de Mauduit sheltered them at her château. Despite the constant threat of German discovery, the airmen continued their escape with assistance from French civilians and Resistance members, including Vladimir Bouryschkine. Roy eventually traveled through the Bourblanc and Bourgogne escape networks, crossing the Pyrenees into Spain and reaching Gibraltar before returning to the United Kingdom on August 21, 1943. SSgt Martin died on February 3, 2003, and is now buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Rison, Cleveland County, Arkansas, USA.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, www.rumboogiecrew.com, francecrashes39-45.net, rcmcollection.com