Richard served as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner, B-24 (#41-28651), 576th Bomber Squadron, 392nd Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.
He resided in Erie County, New York prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on March 4, 1942 in Buffalo, New York. He was noted as being employed as a sheet metal worker and also as Single, without dependents.
Richard was "Killed In Action" during the war and was awarded a Purple Heart.
Service # 12056553
Target: Friedrichshafen Germany
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:3324
Date Lost: 18-Mar-44
Serial Number: #41-28651
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "C"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 9th Mission
Location: (5) kilometers south of Montdidier, France
Cause: mid-air collision. Crew of 10 KIA
The mission this day would see the 392nd suffer its heaviest losses, both aircraft and aircrew members, of any individual raid ever flown during its combat experience in World War II. Before the mission was completed, (14) aircraft and crews would be lost and (9) other ships damaged by fighters and flak, all totaling (154) casualties. General briefing for (28) aircrews was conducted between 0400-0530 hours.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: This plane and aircrew turned out to be that involved in the mid-air collision with the Dalton ship as the Group formation was enroute to target over France. (The account and the fate of this plane is related in the Dalton summary above, MACR #3320. There were no crewmember survivors of this flight crew as a result of this mishap). German Report #KU1236, 21 March 1944, at 2315 hours and sent to the (Luftwaffe) Evaluation Center - West Oberursel stated that this Liberator crashed at 1232 hours, 18 March, (1) kilometer south of the village of Doufront, (5) kilometers south of Montdidier, France, due to a mid-air collision (with another B-24, tail number 129174, which was the Dalton ship). All crewmen were found dead in this crashed aircraft. German Report #KU1237 noted that this plane also was probably carrying incendiary bombs containing liquid fuel which completely destroyed the aircraft by fire after the crash. The plane was identified with a blue "D" in a white circle and a tail number as '128651'. (Note: Montdidier is about (35) kilometers southeast of AMIENS, France).
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: There were no survivors on this aircrew from the mid-air collision.
BURIAL RECORDS: The German Report #KU1234, as for the Dalton deceased crewmen, reflected the initial burial of all of these crewmembers in a common grave in the Cemetery Le Ployren, France, located at the eastern outskirts of this village. One 'unknown' member, noted as being identifiable by the Germans at the time, was Sgt. Dmoch. A search of U.S. National overseas Cemetery records lists the following burial information: Feran in the EPINAL, France, location (Grave B-40-22); and also the following crewmen there: Hayes (Grave B-27-22); Gallagher (Grave B-20-22); Wheeler (Grave B-30-22) and Boord (Grave A-6-11). 2/Lt Cummings, 2/Lt Greene, and T/Sgt Dmoch are interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Sec 82 Site 38A. The following medal awards to these men were: Feran (Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster); Hayes (Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart) Gallagher (no other Medal listed but the Purple Heart); Wheeler (Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal w/ (3) Oak Leaf Clusters); and Boord (Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart).
The #41-28651 crew
1st/Lt. John E. Feran, Pilot, KIA
2nd/Lt. Francis N. Hayes, Co-Pilot, KIA
2nd/Lt. Francis J. Cummings, Navigator, KIA
1st/Lt. Donald R. Greene, Bombardier, KIA
T/Sgt. Anthony J. Wolfer, Engineer, KIA
T/Sgt. Thaddeus S. Dmoch, Radio Op., KIA
S/Sgt. Merwin Wheeler, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. Richard Gallagher, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. William R. Hampton, Jr, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. Wayne M. Boord, Gunner, KIA
(Crew report supplied by John Dowdy)
He resided in Erie County, New York prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on March 4, 1942 in Buffalo, New York. He was noted as being employed as a sheet metal worker and also as Single, without dependents.
Richard was "Killed In Action" during the war and was awarded a Purple Heart.
Service # 12056553
Target: Friedrichshafen Germany
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:3324
Date Lost: 18-Mar-44
Serial Number: #41-28651
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "C"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 9th Mission
Location: (5) kilometers south of Montdidier, France
Cause: mid-air collision. Crew of 10 KIA
The mission this day would see the 392nd suffer its heaviest losses, both aircraft and aircrew members, of any individual raid ever flown during its combat experience in World War II. Before the mission was completed, (14) aircraft and crews would be lost and (9) other ships damaged by fighters and flak, all totaling (154) casualties. General briefing for (28) aircrews was conducted between 0400-0530 hours.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: This plane and aircrew turned out to be that involved in the mid-air collision with the Dalton ship as the Group formation was enroute to target over France. (The account and the fate of this plane is related in the Dalton summary above, MACR #3320. There were no crewmember survivors of this flight crew as a result of this mishap). German Report #KU1236, 21 March 1944, at 2315 hours and sent to the (Luftwaffe) Evaluation Center - West Oberursel stated that this Liberator crashed at 1232 hours, 18 March, (1) kilometer south of the village of Doufront, (5) kilometers south of Montdidier, France, due to a mid-air collision (with another B-24, tail number 129174, which was the Dalton ship). All crewmen were found dead in this crashed aircraft. German Report #KU1237 noted that this plane also was probably carrying incendiary bombs containing liquid fuel which completely destroyed the aircraft by fire after the crash. The plane was identified with a blue "D" in a white circle and a tail number as '128651'. (Note: Montdidier is about (35) kilometers southeast of AMIENS, France).
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: There were no survivors on this aircrew from the mid-air collision.
BURIAL RECORDS: The German Report #KU1234, as for the Dalton deceased crewmen, reflected the initial burial of all of these crewmembers in a common grave in the Cemetery Le Ployren, France, located at the eastern outskirts of this village. One 'unknown' member, noted as being identifiable by the Germans at the time, was Sgt. Dmoch. A search of U.S. National overseas Cemetery records lists the following burial information: Feran in the EPINAL, France, location (Grave B-40-22); and also the following crewmen there: Hayes (Grave B-27-22); Gallagher (Grave B-20-22); Wheeler (Grave B-30-22) and Boord (Grave A-6-11). 2/Lt Cummings, 2/Lt Greene, and T/Sgt Dmoch are interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Sec 82 Site 38A. The following medal awards to these men were: Feran (Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster); Hayes (Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart) Gallagher (no other Medal listed but the Purple Heart); Wheeler (Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal w/ (3) Oak Leaf Clusters); and Boord (Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart).
The #41-28651 crew
1st/Lt. John E. Feran, Pilot, KIA
2nd/Lt. Francis N. Hayes, Co-Pilot, KIA
2nd/Lt. Francis J. Cummings, Navigator, KIA
1st/Lt. Donald R. Greene, Bombardier, KIA
T/Sgt. Anthony J. Wolfer, Engineer, KIA
T/Sgt. Thaddeus S. Dmoch, Radio Op., KIA
S/Sgt. Merwin Wheeler, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. Richard Gallagher, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. William R. Hampton, Jr, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. Wayne M. Boord, Gunner, KIA
(Crew report supplied by John Dowdy)
Richard served as a Staff Sergeant and Gunner, B-24 (#41-28651), 576th Bomber Squadron, 392nd Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.
He resided in Erie County, New York prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on March 4, 1942 in Buffalo, New York. He was noted as being employed as a sheet metal worker and also as Single, without dependents.
Richard was "Killed In Action" during the war and was awarded a Purple Heart.
Service # 12056553
Target: Friedrichshafen Germany
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:3324
Date Lost: 18-Mar-44
Serial Number: #41-28651
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "C"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 9th Mission
Location: (5) kilometers south of Montdidier, France
Cause: mid-air collision. Crew of 10 KIA
The mission this day would see the 392nd suffer its heaviest losses, both aircraft and aircrew members, of any individual raid ever flown during its combat experience in World War II. Before the mission was completed, (14) aircraft and crews would be lost and (9) other ships damaged by fighters and flak, all totaling (154) casualties. General briefing for (28) aircrews was conducted between 0400-0530 hours.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: This plane and aircrew turned out to be that involved in the mid-air collision with the Dalton ship as the Group formation was enroute to target over France. (The account and the fate of this plane is related in the Dalton summary above, MACR #3320. There were no crewmember survivors of this flight crew as a result of this mishap). German Report #KU1236, 21 March 1944, at 2315 hours and sent to the (Luftwaffe) Evaluation Center - West Oberursel stated that this Liberator crashed at 1232 hours, 18 March, (1) kilometer south of the village of Doufront, (5) kilometers south of Montdidier, France, due to a mid-air collision (with another B-24, tail number 129174, which was the Dalton ship). All crewmen were found dead in this crashed aircraft. German Report #KU1237 noted that this plane also was probably carrying incendiary bombs containing liquid fuel which completely destroyed the aircraft by fire after the crash. The plane was identified with a blue "D" in a white circle and a tail number as '128651'. (Note: Montdidier is about (35) kilometers southeast of AMIENS, France).
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: There were no survivors on this aircrew from the mid-air collision.
BURIAL RECORDS: The German Report #KU1234, as for the Dalton deceased crewmen, reflected the initial burial of all of these crewmembers in a common grave in the Cemetery Le Ployren, France, located at the eastern outskirts of this village. One 'unknown' member, noted as being identifiable by the Germans at the time, was Sgt. Dmoch. A search of U.S. National overseas Cemetery records lists the following burial information: Feran in the EPINAL, France, location (Grave B-40-22); and also the following crewmen there: Hayes (Grave B-27-22); Gallagher (Grave B-20-22); Wheeler (Grave B-30-22) and Boord (Grave A-6-11). 2/Lt Cummings, 2/Lt Greene, and T/Sgt Dmoch are interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Sec 82 Site 38A. The following medal awards to these men were: Feran (Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster); Hayes (Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart) Gallagher (no other Medal listed but the Purple Heart); Wheeler (Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal w/ (3) Oak Leaf Clusters); and Boord (Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart).
The #41-28651 crew
1st/Lt. John E. Feran, Pilot, KIA
2nd/Lt. Francis N. Hayes, Co-Pilot, KIA
2nd/Lt. Francis J. Cummings, Navigator, KIA
1st/Lt. Donald R. Greene, Bombardier, KIA
T/Sgt. Anthony J. Wolfer, Engineer, KIA
T/Sgt. Thaddeus S. Dmoch, Radio Op., KIA
S/Sgt. Merwin Wheeler, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. Richard Gallagher, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. William R. Hampton, Jr, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. Wayne M. Boord, Gunner, KIA
(Crew report supplied by John Dowdy)
He resided in Erie County, New York prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on March 4, 1942 in Buffalo, New York. He was noted as being employed as a sheet metal worker and also as Single, without dependents.
Richard was "Killed In Action" during the war and was awarded a Purple Heart.
Service # 12056553
Target: Friedrichshafen Germany
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:3324
Date Lost: 18-Mar-44
Serial Number: #41-28651
Aircraft Model B-24
Aircraft Letter: "C"
Aircraft Name: (NO NICKNAME) 9th Mission
Location: (5) kilometers south of Montdidier, France
Cause: mid-air collision. Crew of 10 KIA
The mission this day would see the 392nd suffer its heaviest losses, both aircraft and aircrew members, of any individual raid ever flown during its combat experience in World War II. Before the mission was completed, (14) aircraft and crews would be lost and (9) other ships damaged by fighters and flak, all totaling (154) casualties. General briefing for (28) aircrews was conducted between 0400-0530 hours.
MISSION LOSS CIRCUMSTANCES: This plane and aircrew turned out to be that involved in the mid-air collision with the Dalton ship as the Group formation was enroute to target over France. (The account and the fate of this plane is related in the Dalton summary above, MACR #3320. There were no crewmember survivors of this flight crew as a result of this mishap). German Report #KU1236, 21 March 1944, at 2315 hours and sent to the (Luftwaffe) Evaluation Center - West Oberursel stated that this Liberator crashed at 1232 hours, 18 March, (1) kilometer south of the village of Doufront, (5) kilometers south of Montdidier, France, due to a mid-air collision (with another B-24, tail number 129174, which was the Dalton ship). All crewmen were found dead in this crashed aircraft. German Report #KU1237 noted that this plane also was probably carrying incendiary bombs containing liquid fuel which completely destroyed the aircraft by fire after the crash. The plane was identified with a blue "D" in a white circle and a tail number as '128651'. (Note: Montdidier is about (35) kilometers southeast of AMIENS, France).
INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS OF CREWMEN FATES: There were no survivors on this aircrew from the mid-air collision.
BURIAL RECORDS: The German Report #KU1234, as for the Dalton deceased crewmen, reflected the initial burial of all of these crewmembers in a common grave in the Cemetery Le Ployren, France, located at the eastern outskirts of this village. One 'unknown' member, noted as being identifiable by the Germans at the time, was Sgt. Dmoch. A search of U.S. National overseas Cemetery records lists the following burial information: Feran in the EPINAL, France, location (Grave B-40-22); and also the following crewmen there: Hayes (Grave B-27-22); Gallagher (Grave B-20-22); Wheeler (Grave B-30-22) and Boord (Grave A-6-11). 2/Lt Cummings, 2/Lt Greene, and T/Sgt Dmoch are interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Sec 82 Site 38A. The following medal awards to these men were: Feran (Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster); Hayes (Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart) Gallagher (no other Medal listed but the Purple Heart); Wheeler (Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal w/ (3) Oak Leaf Clusters); and Boord (Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart).
The #41-28651 crew
1st/Lt. John E. Feran, Pilot, KIA
2nd/Lt. Francis N. Hayes, Co-Pilot, KIA
2nd/Lt. Francis J. Cummings, Navigator, KIA
1st/Lt. Donald R. Greene, Bombardier, KIA
T/Sgt. Anthony J. Wolfer, Engineer, KIA
T/Sgt. Thaddeus S. Dmoch, Radio Op., KIA
S/Sgt. Merwin Wheeler, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. Richard Gallagher, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. William R. Hampton, Jr, Gunner, KIA
S/Sgt. Wayne M. Boord, Gunner, KIA
(Crew report supplied by John Dowdy)
Gravesite Details
Entered the Service from New York.
Family Members
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