Richard Anthony Kraham
Military
Crew left to right:
Front row T/Sgt. Richard A Kraham of Cooperstown, NY radio operator; S/Sgt. John I White of Plainview Arkansas, waist gunner
2nd Row: S/Sgt. John Martko, Mainville, NJ tailgunner; 1st Lt Charles B Hill Shreveport, LA navigator; 1st Lt John W Childers, Talent, OR co-pilot; 1st Lt Reuben J Weltha, Roland, IA pilot; S/Sgt. Donald F Swanson, Walsenberg, CO, waist gunner; 1st Lt Richard J Morrow, Madison, WI bombardier; S/Sgt Prentice Boston, Moundsville, WV, waist gunner; T/Sgt. Russel T Elkin, Markleysburg, PA Engineer,
Sgt Boston and Elkin can be seen on top of the plane.
Best Web - B-24 - Chug-A-Lug
Object Number - UPL 15201 - B-24D Liberator, 41-11766, Chug-A-Lug, 345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF, flew in the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania, ...
Dick graduated from Cooperstown High School in 1940 where his exceptional baseball skills were noted by the New York Herald Tribune when they wrote an article about him that the "Birthplace of Baseball May Spawn Star." While working in advertising in Manhattan in 1941, Kraham had a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers and went to Spring training with the team. He was assigned to their Olean farm team of the New York Pennsylvania League. World War II cut his professional baseball career short.
Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. John Childers crew. 50 x combat missions. Completed tour. Returned to USA with B-24 'Chug A Lug' for war bonds tour.
While on a bombing mission over Toulon, France, Kraham's flight warming suit, connected to the plane's electrical system, caught fire as the formation was being strafed by Me109's. At his personal peril, he continued fighting from his waist gunner position and shot down three enemy fighter planes. He was awarded one of the Air Force's highest honours, the Distinguished Flying Cross for this.
Awards: DFC, AM (2OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39305311 / O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Chug-A-Lug
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Soluch Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Cooperstown, NY | 14 November 1921 | Son Michael Paul and Sarah [Rohan] Kraham. |
|
Enlisted |
Albany, NY | 18 August 1942 | Albany, New York |
|
Died |
Chatham, NY | 13 September 2011 | |
|
Buried |
Saint Marys Cemetery, Cooperstown, Otsego County, NY | 17 September 2011 | Saint Marys Cemetery Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York |
|
Based |
Benina | Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. | |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
Honourable discharge. |