died in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea
Aguirre graduated from Mountain Home High School class of 1937, and attended the University of Washington. He married Margaret A Dick.
He was the navigator on B-17E #41-9244, assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron. The plane was nicknamed 'Honi Kuu Okole', which means 'kiss my ass' in Hawaiian.
In the early morning hours of May 21, 1943 the plane took off from Dobodura Airfield in Papua New Guinea to bomb Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. before arriving at the target, however, the plane was attacked by a Japanese night fighter and seriously damaged. The pilot turned the bomber southward and ordered the crew to bail out. Only three managed to escape before the plane crashed into the ocean.
Because his body was never recovered, Aguirre is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
Richard Aguirre Park in Mountain Home Idaho is named in his honor.
Aguirre graduated from Mountain Home High School class of 1937, and attended the University of Washington. He married Margaret A Dick.
He was the navigator on B-17E #41-9244, assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron. The plane was nicknamed 'Honi Kuu Okole', which means 'kiss my ass' in Hawaiian.
In the early morning hours of May 21, 1943 the plane took off from Dobodura Airfield in Papua New Guinea to bomb Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. before arriving at the target, however, the plane was attacked by a Japanese night fighter and seriously damaged. The pilot turned the bomber southward and ordered the crew to bail out. Only three managed to escape before the plane crashed into the ocean.
Because his body was never recovered, Aguirre is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
Richard Aguirre Park in Mountain Home Idaho is named in his honor.
died in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea
Aguirre graduated from Mountain Home High School class of 1937, and attended the University of Washington. He married Margaret A Dick.
He was the navigator on B-17E #41-9244, assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron. The plane was nicknamed 'Honi Kuu Okole', which means 'kiss my ass' in Hawaiian.
In the early morning hours of May 21, 1943 the plane took off from Dobodura Airfield in Papua New Guinea to bomb Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. before arriving at the target, however, the plane was attacked by a Japanese night fighter and seriously damaged. The pilot turned the bomber southward and ordered the crew to bail out. Only three managed to escape before the plane crashed into the ocean.
Because his body was never recovered, Aguirre is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
Richard Aguirre Park in Mountain Home Idaho is named in his honor.
Aguirre graduated from Mountain Home High School class of 1937, and attended the University of Washington. He married Margaret A Dick.
He was the navigator on B-17E #41-9244, assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron. The plane was nicknamed 'Honi Kuu Okole', which means 'kiss my ass' in Hawaiian.
In the early morning hours of May 21, 1943 the plane took off from Dobodura Airfield in Papua New Guinea to bomb Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. before arriving at the target, however, the plane was attacked by a Japanese night fighter and seriously damaged. The pilot turned the bomber southward and ordered the crew to bail out. Only three managed to escape before the plane crashed into the ocean.
Because his body was never recovered, Aguirre is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.
Richard Aguirre Park in Mountain Home Idaho is named in his honor.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Idaho.
Family Members
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