Rodolphe Henry Richer

Military

Shot down 15 September 1943 in B-17 #42-3437. Evaded with the help of French civilians and Résistance members - Escape and Evasion Report E&E 255.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.

96th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Henry Seaver Caballero

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32456949
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Lawrence Leroy Dube

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-679057
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

George William Frank

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39134433 at enlistment, then O-729323
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Elwin Walter McMahon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11085076
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Donald McClure Reid

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16084794
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Aircraft

42-3437

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Excaliburs revenge
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group 339th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Charlotte, Vermont, USA 27 October 1915

Enlisted

11 August 1942 in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States

Other

Shot down over Paris

15 September 1943 as radio operator on B-17 42-3437; he was the sole survivor of the ten-man crew. The plane exploded right after he left it.

Other

Evaded capture

15 September 1943 - 28 November 1943 Helped by French civilians and Résistance members through France and down to Spain and Gibraltar where he arrived on 28 November 1943. Back in the UK on 3 December 1943.

Died

13 March 1982

Buried

Rodolphe Richer rests at the Saint Patricks Cemetery in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
Chicopee Falls, Hampden County, Massachusetts

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
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Sources

Added place of residence in Biography
Associated Media

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NARA Air Force Medals

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NARA WWII Enlistment records

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MACR 726

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NARA WWII Enlistment records
Escape & Evasion Report 255
MACR 726

Date
ContributorAAM
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 726 / MACR 726; Snetterton Falcons, pg 52 and 59 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database