Son of John and Elizabeth Roberts, of Llangollen, Denbighshire, John Oliver Roberts joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as part of 682 Sqadron. 682 Squadron was a photo reconnaissance squadron of the RAF. It flew Spitfires & Mosquitos in support of the campaign in Tunisia, Sicily and then Italy. In June 1943, when John Roberts died, it was based at La Marsa in Tunisia.

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