423rd squadron radio operator Roskovich was not only the first 306th airman to complete twenty-five missions, but he was also the first airman in the entire 8th Air Force to do so! He was the son of a Russian immigrant and nicknamed the “Mad Russian” as he often wore a Cossack hat and would cut off the ties of any officer who entered his plane. Coincidently, on the very next day, 423rd navigator Lt. James Pollock became the first officer to complete twenty-five missions. Although Roskovich was entitled to go home after completing twenty-five missions, he re-upped and was promoted to a 2nd Lt Gunnery Officer: completing another 8 missions.

On February 4, 1944, he was part of a crew on a training flight to RAF Drem Air Station in East Lothian, Scotland. On take off from Drem, the aircraft #42-31715, with four crew and two British passengers on board, suffered an engine failure in the number one engine. Tragically, the pilot continued the takeoff which proved to be a disaster as the plane failed to gain height and crashed into a field just beyond the airfield boundary. All those on board were killed.