World War II Series Widely Received

Our Robert Kopper WWII Series has been widely received, is playing on TV channels throughout Massachusetts, and being viewed nationally. The show is sponsored by NSK Inc. Information Technology Specialists in Boston and John McCue Well Drilling in Pembroke.

Please call 781-910-8899 today to discuss and sponsor upcoming programming.

After the June 2012 dissolution of Pembroke's television station and studio, volunteers didn't miss a beat, created their own non-profit Pembroke Community organization, continued producing local shows, and became an award-winning alliance.

Most recently, The Corporation for National and Community Service at 1201 New York Avenue, NW in Washington, DC gave volunteer Bob Ryerson the 2011 Presidential Service Award for his work with Pembroke's media endeavors.

Our own  Catherine Briggette received the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year Award given to only one person annually by the largest chamber in Massachusetts.

Guidestar granted the Gold Seal of Excellence to Pembroke Media's for national recognition, excellence, and status as a non-profit organization.

There is absolutely no affiliation with pactv.

DVDs are free with a $20 donation to support Pembroke Community Media Center.  Call781-910-8899, or CLICK HERE.

ALL SUPPORT IS FULLY TAX-DEDUCTIBLE

Have an idea for a show or want to cover a local event? Join the fun by contacting us today to start your project tomorrow. 

Episode 3 of the World War II Series Is Here

Torpedo bomber pilot Robert Roy III invited pembrokecommunitymedia.com's cast and crew of The Robert Kopper Show into his School Street home Saturday morning, May 11, 2013 for taping of episode 3 of the 4-part World War Two series.

The resultant 33 minute video is a hit with history buffs, and just plain interesting for anyone who likes old photos.

Shown at the beginning is Roy's original combat authorization paper asking "pilot ready for combat?" To signify the affirmative, there's a little "x" typed in the box to the right of the "Yes."

Next is a photograph of the entire squadron and a list of their names.

Roy flew 390 hours practicing take-offs and landings prior to getting his flight "approval."

See the original 28 May 1944-stamped paper generated at Glenview Naval Air Station in Illinois. It says "Qualified this date in carrier landings aboard the USS SABLE in . . . .S N J . . .airplane." Another mark just below the entry is "Approved."

At the 20 min, 57 second point is an interesting photograph Roy's on-board gun camera took of another plane while both were taxiing in San Diego.

This video gives a firsthand account of WW II pilots' day to day life, and more often death.

At 24:31 is a "kind of sad letter," Roy says. "I had a pal at Mount Herman School named John Roberts." Roy continues to read a letter he wrote 69 years ago. "Dear Mother, I received a letter that I had written to John Roberts when I first arrived here. The letter was unopened. Simply stamped 'deceased.' Seems hard to believe and yet it must be true. John was the finest friend I've ever had, and we had swell times together at Mount Herman. We used to have the same jobs, the same classes, and we went out for the same sports. This is an awful way to find out. Stamped on an envelope."

Being with Rob Roy II in person and through viewing on video, is a rare treat not only because of his pleasant personality and quick wit, but because of a willingness to share memories of experiences that few can imagine.

 Remember as you watch, that many pilots did not go home after the war; and of those who did return, most are deceased.

Part 2 of The Robert Kopper WW II Series with Aviator Rob Roy Is Here

CLICK HERE to watch video

On May 6, 2013, Part 2 of The Robert Kopper Show's 4-part World War Two series was filmed by volunteers of pembrokecommunitymedia.com in the Pembroke, Massachusetts home of torpedo bomber and fighter pilot Rob Roy III.

The show is playing in the "Community" section of the Robert Kopper Show category.

Kopper reintroduces and interviews Roy who talks about flight training, and personally reads war-time letters written to his mother over sixty years ago.

"She saved everything I sent her," Roy said. "But I didn't find that out until after her death.  Some of these letters recount events that even I didn't remember until I read them again on this show."

Young recruits were encouraged to write home, prompting Roy to admit that "I would never probably have written."

Rob Roy III is one of the more seasoned Pembroke Community Media volunteers. Before featuring himself in this 4-part series, Roy was active in many of the 15 Inspirational shows made this past year at and for The First Church in Pembroke.

In the 1920s the Roy family settled in Wellsboro Pennsylvania where Rob Roy II ran the weekly "Wellsboro agitator" which had the motto "The agitation of thought is the beginning of wisdom."

Lydia and Rob II had two daughters, Constance and Anne, in addition to Rob III. The elder Roy died when young Rob was only 5, forcing the budding family to move back east to live with Lydia's parents in Quincy.

Roy started college at Harvard University the summer following high school graduation and then interrupted those studies to join the military and take college classes at The University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

Go to the 14 minute, 15 second point in the video to see a hand-drawn map of the "navy part of the campus" reorganized to accommodate training for military personnel.  You'll be amazed to see how the entire University layout was changed to help train pilots for the war effort.

"The campus of The University of Georgia is on two huge hills," he writes, "and three round trips a day means six climbs."   He continues, "At least two and sometimes three times a day we had to negotiate the Burma Road which is well named."

Roy passed those aviation-related college classes with "flying colors," and quickly qualified to be a pilot.

After the war, Roy was able to resume studies at Harvard to earn a bachelor's degree.

The video is 24 minutes, 10 seconds long, and shares plenty of intriguing, black-and-white period pictures lined up and photographed for you by volunteer Janet Callaghan. Shots are from Mr. Roy's personal, one-of-a kind collection of memorabilia.

Go to www.pembrokecommunitymedia.com for easy viewing.

Pembroke Media is a all-volunteer group of moms, dads and children who live in Pembroke.  Funding comes from local businesses and people like you.  All support is fully tax-deductible under IRS 501(c)(3) rules, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts non-profit regulations.

We can be reached at 781-910-8899.

Meet Pembroke's World War II Fighter Pilot, Robert Roy III

by: Margaret Jones

CLICK HERE.  

  

World War II torpedo bomber fighter pilot, Mr Robert Roy III, invited Pembroke Community Media's Robert Kopper Show cast and crew into his Pembroke home on April 9th to make a video about war-time experiences and memorabilia. Both the show and 1½ minute promotional short now are playing at www.pembrokecommunitymedia.com.

Roy left Harvard University freshman year to join the service, having been impressed by an active-duty pilot in full uniform visiting area high schools.

 "Only an 18-yr-old would think it fun to go to war," said Roy. "It was pretty shrewd of them to send a guy in uniform around to impress us kids."

Roy's mother Lydia in Wollaston signed the enlistment papers in 1942, and off he went to Florida for flight training which began with Piper Cubs and progressed to torpedo bombers. 

"We changed the city's name to Fort Liquordade," joked Roy.  "We could do what we wanted there."

Roy flew night missions and had to be familiar with his plane's "dashboard" in the dark.  Blindfold exercises confirmed expertise.

On one particular mission, Roy's instructions were to fly out 300 miles, spend 3 hours bombing the target, then find and return to a darkened ship that had moved 100 miles from it’s original position.

After the war, Roy returned to Harvard to earn a Bachelor of Science degree.

He joined the reserves, and later served another 2 years state-side at Quonset Point, Rhode Island during the Korean War.

This historic presentation is a "must-see" for anyone who enjoys World War Two shows.

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Pembroke Community Media has no affiliation with Comcast or pactv. It is run by volunteer moms, dads, and children who live in Pembroke, with funding from local businesses and viewers like you.  It is a Commonwealth of Massachusetts non-profit, IRS tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization. All support is 100% tax-deductible.   

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