A Royal Naval Officer at the kill of the Konigsberg 1940.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Rooper's Skua Squadron
Rooper is sitting on the extreme right of the photo.
Here is Rooper's service record:
Lieutenant James Anthony Rooper, RN
Graduated with Pilot class 40
29/11/38 as a Sub-Lieutenant RN (seniority date 01/10/37)was posted to 800 Squadron, FAA, assigned to HMS Ark Royal.
14/08/39 status unchanged.
14/10/39 status unchanged, but Squadron is ashore at RNAS[Royal Navy Air Station] Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk)
xx/10/39 promoted to Acting Lieutenant, RN (seniority date01/10/39), still with 800 Squadron, FAA.
18/05/40 status unchanged, but Squadron is again assigned to HMSArk Royal.
xx/05/40 promoted to Lieutenant, RN (seniority date16/04/39) – earlier seniority date for combat service in Norway.
18/07/40 status unchanged.
20/09/40 status unchanged.
18/11/40 status unchanged.
14/01/41 status unchanged.
xx/03/41 status unchanged.
04/04/41 800 Squadron disembarked HMS Ark Royal in UK and temporarily disbanded, personnelgiven one months leave.
01/06/41 assigned to the newly formed 881 Squadron, FAA,which was intended for eventual deployment on HMS Ark Royal, then in the Med.
11/06/41 killed as a member of 881 Squadron when his MartletII (AL-254) collided with a Fulmar I (N1924) over .Lee-on-Solent and crashedinto the sea.