An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

VIB Banner

William Roberts

Major (Ret.) William Roberts served in both the officer and enlisted ranks of the Air Force, and is a former Prisoner of War. Roberts was a Staff Sergeant Aerial Gunner with the Army Air Corps assigned to the 463rd Bomb Group. On July 7th, 1944, his B-17G Flying Fortress was shot down near Velehrad, Czech Republic. He spent 11 months as a POW in various camps in Poland. Major Roberts’ camp was eventually liberated by a British tank force in May of 1945. He recently recalled many details of his conduct as a Prisoner of War. “You call up an inner-self to do what is needed and to keep going,” he said.

Major Roberts continues to honor POWs and MIAs by being a public speaker, a national director for the American Ex-Prisoners of War and in several veterans’ organizations. His son, Colonel William Roberts III, is currently a B-1 Lancer pilot in the Air Force.