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name
JONES, Richard L - Date of
birth
10 September 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-793257 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
P-Navigator -
Unit
839th Bombardment Squadron,
487th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
25 August 1944 - Place of
death
Müritz Lake, Rechlin, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 7 | 39 |
Immediate family
-
Members
John R. Jones (father)
Leah G. (Baker) Jones (mother)
Cleda G. Jones (sister)
John R. Jones (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37980 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Rechlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the test center airfield
MACR: 8470
More information
Capt Richard L. Jones had completed two years of college when he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet at Fort Hayes, Ohio on 5 January 1942. He completed navigation training at Selman Field, Alabama.The aircraft was hit by flak just after bombs away over the target. The right outer wing was lost, and the burning aircraft went into a spin, exploded and crashed in Müritz Lake, north of the target.
Two crew members, 1/Lt Joseph Anderson Duncan and S/Sgt Monroe Stanley Wolyn, survived. Lt Hood's body was never found. The other nine crew members were killed.
His remains and those of seven of his crew mates were buried initially at the Cemetery in Retzow, Germany, a short distance north of Rechlin Airfield.
His remains were disinterred from Retzow Cemetery on 17 July 1947, moved to the U.S. Military Cemetery, Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, and reinterred there.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.findagrave.com - Paul Webber
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.findagrave.com - Paul Webber