Lt General Roger M. Ramey
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) and U.S. Air Force (USAF)

Background
Roger Maxwell Ramey was born September 9, 1905 in Sulphur Springs, TX. He graduated high school and attended North Texas Teachers College then was appointed to United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. On June 9, 1928 graduated and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-17231.

Later that year, became part of the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) and enrolled in primary flying school at Brooks Field, TX. In September 1929, attended advanced flying school at Kelly Field, TX. Next, assigned to Selfridge Field with the 27th Pursuit Squadron. In October 1930 became operations officer. During August 1932 assigned to the 17th Pursuit Squadron as operations officer. In 1933, became Commanding Officer (C.O.) of 38th Pursuit Squadron and post photographic officer. In July 1934 assigned to Randolph Field, TX as a flying instructor for the Primary Flying School. On September 1, 1934 promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

On June 9, 1938 promoted to the rank of Captain. In March 1939 assigned to Wheeler Field as an intelligence officer for 18th Pursuit Group. In July 1939 became Commanding Officer (C.O.) of 19th Pursuit Squadron. In April 1940 became executive officer for 18th Pursuit Group. In October 1940 moves to Hickam Filed and assumed command of the 42nd Bombardment Squadron (42nd BS). On January 31, 1941 promoted to the rank of Major. On June 20, 1941 becomes part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF).

World War II History
On December 7, 1941 at 7:00am Ramey was with Major Gordon A. Blake in the operations building at Hickam Filed when they heard an explosion and the sound of diving aircraft from the first wave of the Japanese attack. During the attack, Ramey was commended for his decisive efforts to get aircraft out of harm's way and assumed a leadership role by reorganizing the base command structure by aircraft type.

During January 1942 became plans and training officer for 7th Bomber Command (VII Bomber Command). On January 5, 1942 promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During February 1942 became acting deputy chief of staff for operations of the 7th Air Force (7th AF). On March 1, 1942 promoted to the temporary rank of Colonel.

During October 1942 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF) in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). On October 21, 1942 became the Commanding Officer (C.O.) of the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG).

On December 8, 1942 pilot B-17F "I Dood It" 41-24543 as one of four B-17s on a mission to bomb a small Japanese convoy of destroyers off Jacquinot Bay on New Britain. The B-17s bombed individually from 2,000' and were intercepted by Zeros.

On December 19, 1942 flew as an observer aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress piloted by Captain Harry A. Staley as one of six B-17s on a convoy search bound for Madang and found no ships and bombed coastal installations instead.

On January 9, 1943 flew as a passenger aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress piloted by Captain Daniel H. Cromer on a mission against the Lae convoy. At 8:30am arriving over Lae the convoy had already departed and bombed beached Myoko Maru.

On February 1, 1943 flew as a pilot aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress leading a bombing mission over Rabaul and remained over the target for two hours and made 20 passes dropping flares each run to divert searchlight and anti-aircraft fire from other bombers in the formation. For his actions, he later earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).

On February 14, 1943 flew as a passenger aboard B-17F "Ka-Puhio-Wela" 41-24356 piloted by 1st Lt. Harold S. Barnett.

On March 29, 1943 Colonel Ramey became commander of 5th Bomber Command (V Bomber Command), after the previous commander Brigadier General Howard K. Ramey (no relation) went Missing In Action (MIA).

On July 1, 1943 promoted to the temporary rank of Brigadier General. On August 27, 1943 in Port Moresby presents awards to airmen and in the evening opened the 403rd Bombardment Squadron (403rd BS) enlisted men's club.

On September 5, 1943 photographed with General Douglas MacArthur and the crew of B-17F "Talisman" 41-24537 at 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. He was part of a flight to observe the U.S. Army 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (503rd PIR) paratrooper drop on Nadzab. Also in the flight was B-17F "The Mustang" 41-24554 carrying General Richard Sutherland, plus B-17F "Cap'n & The Kids" 41-24353 with General George Kenney aboard. The flight was dubbed by General Kenney as the "Brass Hat's Flight".

On the middle of September 1943 flew as a passenger aboard B-24 piloted by Col Harry J. Hawthorne on an aerial tour of Wau, Tsili-Tsili and Nadzab for over three hours to plan future operations.

During December 1943 returns to the United States and commands the 38th Flying Training Wing at Kirtland Field, New Mexico. In May 1944 assigned to Peterson Field in Colorado as commander 314th Bomb Wing. In June 1944 becomes chief of staff XXI Bomber Command and departs overseas in November 1944. In January 1945 became commander of 58th Bomb Wing in India. In April 1945 moves with the wing to the Marianas. On June 9, 1945 promoted to the rank of Major General. In September 1945 assigned to Continental Air Forces at Bolling Field, Washington DC.

Postwar
In November 1945, assigned to Fort Worth Army Air Base, Texas. In June 1946 commander, Task Group 1.5 (TG 1.5) the Army Air Force portion of Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll and director of "Able" shot. During January 1947 assumed command of the 8th Air Force (8th AF) and was simultaneously was the commander of Fort Worth Army Airfield.

On July 8, 1947 at Fort Worth Army Air Field held a press conference with Col. Thomas J. Dubose, his chief of staff and was photographed with wreckage recovered from Roswell, New Mexico that was claimed to be a 'flying disk' and said it was a wind forecasting device in what would become the "Roswell Incident". For his service in 1947, Ramey earned the Legion of Merit for "meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States in 1947."

On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On October 29, 1947 promoted to the rank of Major General. On April 2, 1948 rank of Colonel. On June 11, 1948 Brigadier General. In 1951, serves on the Military Liaison Committee for the Atomic Energy Commission. On July 21, 1952 to Major General. In May 1954 assumed command of the 5th Air Force in Korea. During June 1954 promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.

In 1956, becomes Deputy Commander, Continental Air Defense Command. On January 1, 1957 retired from military service due to heart problems.

Awards
Ramey was rated a command pilot. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit, and Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

Memorial
Ramey passed away March 4, 1963 at Torrance, California.

References
U.S. Air Force Biography - Lt Gen. Roger M. Ramey
Hall of Valor - Roger Maxwell Ramey
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum - Ramey, Roger M. (Roger Maxwell), 1903-1963
Fort Worth Star-Telegram "Exploded Rumor - New Mexico Rancher's 'Flying Disk' Proves to be Weather Balloon-Kite" July 9, 1947 pp 1, 4
The University of Texas at Arlington Special Collections - Deciphering the Ramey Memo
FindAGrave - Lt Gen Roger Maxwell Ramey (photos, grave photo)
Ken's Men Against The Empire The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume I: Prewar to October 1943 The B-17 Era (2020) pages 69 (photo), 70 (43rd BG C.O.), 97 (Dec 19, 1942), 100 (photo), 103 (rumored telegram to Lindberg), 116 (Jan 9, 1943), 132 (Feb 14, 1943), 164 (V Bomber Command C.O.), 230 (photo), 274 (photo), 275 (Aug 27, 1943), 282 (Sept 5, 1943), 289 (Sept 1943 recon), 304, 319 (43rd BG Leadership), 410 (index Ramey, Roger M.)
They're Killing My Boys The History of Hickam Field and the Attacks of 7 December 1941 (2019) page 90, 104 (photo), 196, 269 (index Ramey, Roger M.)
Ken's Men Against The Empire The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume II: October 1943 to 1945 B-24 Era (2019) pages 351 (43rd BG Leadership), 457 (index Ramey, Roger M.)

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