Richard served as a Technical Sergeant on B-24H #41-29296, 740th Bomber Squadron, 455th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in St. Louis, Missouri prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 14, 1942 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Shipping and receiving clerk and also as Single, without dependents.

Richard was declared "Missing In Action" when his B-24, flying out of San Giovanni, Italy, was ran into by B-24 #42-66497, which had lost an engine, and they both crashed just west of Tremiti Island in the Adriatic Sea during the war.

He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Service # 37384992

( Bio by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-24H #41-29296:

Bastow, Robert F ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, MA Beatty, Fred T, Jr ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, NC Dixon, John G ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, TN Ellerbrook, Leroy W ~ 1st Lt, Bombardier, MI Hughes, Howard F ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, CA Lundwall, Albert A ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, CT Mahoney, Bruce A ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, IA Sapia, Lettimo F ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, CT Stepanian, Charles ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, MA Veley, Richard W ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, MO

For airmen who perished on B-24H #42-66497 see:

Pidcock, James F ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, NJ

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett )

Richard W Veley