Richmond Sello Wollstein Jr
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Richard Wollstein Crew
466th BG - 786th BS
Standing Left to Right: Fred A. Riebe (B), Richard S. Wollstein (P), Maurus C. Owens (N), James B. Smith (CP).
Kneeling Left to Right: William Scott (Ground Crew Chief), Eldred Schroeder (G), Bernard H. Tighe (FE), Charles J. Vejda (R/O), Steve Lindquist (G), Albert W. Pittman (G), Norman Clark (RWG).
This crew were shot down on 13 August 1944 while flying B-24H-15-FO #42-52529 "Wild Pussy" (name changed to "Wild Princess" per officers' request) Code: U8-B
Wollstein (P), Smith (CP), and Owens (N) were all KIA.
Vejda (R/O), Clark (RWG), and Tighe (FE) all evaded capture and eventually returned to England.
Lindquist had been had been KIA on 17 July 1944 when the crew was hit by flak and forced to crash land B-24H-15-FO #42-52511 on the beach near New Romney, England.
The rest of the crew were made POW for the duration.
466th Bomb Group collection
Joseph M. Owens, son of 1st Lt Maurus C Owens (N)
Object Number - UPL 6943 - Crew #631 Richard Wollstein Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Standing Left to Right: Fred A. Riebe (B), Richard S. Wollstein (P), Maurus C. Owens (N),...
Crashed at Orival in B-24 'Wild Pussy' #42-52529, Killed in Action (KIA). According to witnesses, the plane was hit by flak and started burning, some of the men bailed out, 3 evaded and 4 became Prisoner of War (POW)'s. One of the crew said the plane was headed straight for him and suddenly turned away. He credited it to the pilot, Wollstein and the co-pilot. That is why 51 years later the DFC was awarded. Also flew on 'Queen of Hearts'.
Air Medal w 3/Oak Leaf Cluster; Purple Heart and DFC (awarded 51 years later)
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36643016
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36643016
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17051621
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19071869 / O-706963
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 15 August 1944
- Date: 13 August 1944
- Date: 11 August 1944
- Date: 17 June 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Hot Springs, AR, USA | 2 April 1921 | |
|
Died |
Orival, France | 13 August 1944 | KIA when the a/c he was piloting was shot down by flak near the target. |
|
Buried |
Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial | Plot D Row 35 Grave 11 Ardennes American Cemetery Neupre, Belgium | |
| Little Rock, AR | 3700 Hill Road |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7912 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
