(above) Lt. Roger Allcroft, recently revealed as
killed in action, to be honored on Veterans Day. Photo credit: Allcroft family
Veterans Day Tribute to Robert D. Allcroft
Submitted by Walter Boright
This year’s Veterans Day program will include a tribute to Robert D. Allcroft of Kenilworth who perished during WWII in aerial combat over the Pacific on June 22, 1945. His death was recently discovered.
When greatly outnumbered by the enemy, his plane was shot down and a long search for him proved unsuccessful. His sacrifice was not remembered when years later local monuments were erected to honor those of Kenilworth killed in action. It is believed that because the family moved from Kenilworth in 1950 when Parkway construction took their home, that his name was overlooked so many years later.
Born in 1924 he was one of six children of James and Cecile Allcroft of Fairfield Ave. He graduated from Harding School in 1938. He promptly enlisted for combat after graduating Jonathan Dayton Regional High School, Springfield, in 1942. He rose to the rank of first lieutenant in the Marines. Lt. Allcroft received many awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Gold Star.
