Roman J. Ropinski

Roman J Ropinski ~ June 1, 1922 - December 1, 1943

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that Army Air Force Tech. Sgt. Roman J Ropinski, 21, missing in action during World War II, was now accounted for on October 29, 2024.

On December 1,1943 Roman Ropinski, 21, was a member of the U.S. Army Air Force serving with the 436 Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group. Having previously enlisted two months after his high school graduation and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Roman was a flight engineer/gunner on a B-24J Liberator bomber. He was on a bombing mission from Panagarh, India, to the Insein Railroad Yard. Then occupied as a Japanese military transportation center north of Rangoon, Burma. After reaching the designated target, his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire causing severe left wing damage. Witnesses from another aircraft observed his aircraft enter a steep dive while disappearing into clouds. Followed by three enemy aircraft in pursuit of the crippled aircraft. No further contact was made with the Liberator. All occupants were considered missing in action at that time.

Roman was the fourth of six children born to Patrick Joseph Ropinski and Mary Ann Ropinski (née Rychlowski). He graduated from Jefferson High School Class of 1941. Roman was known to be an active athlete participating in intramural boxing and subsequently studying Jiu Jitsu. He was interviewed by a military periodical while serving in the South Pacific Theatre and was quoted stating “I only lost one fight growing up and I don’t plan on losing this one”. He was a man of dedicated faith, family, bravery, and selfless member of The Greatest Generation. Roman joins his Gold Star brother Frank, also a U.S. Army Air Force flight engineer, whose troop transport aircraft crashed on November 16, 1943 in Australia with no survivors.

Roman’s recovered remains will be returned to his beloved sister Helen Arndt of Jefferson on 10/15/2026. Gravesite services will be held on 10/17/2026 at 10:30 a.m. with military honors and interment near his parents at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery, Jefferson.

Schneider-Michaelis Funeral Home is proudly serving the family.