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Personal info

Full name
RICHARDSON, John Parker
Date of birth
30 September 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
Hometown
Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Military service

Service number
35700043
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner
Unit
4th Bombardment Squadron,
34th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 August 1944
Place of death
Kraienwisch, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 9 27

Immediate family

Members
William M. Richardson (father)
Martha M. (Fischer) Richardson (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-94780
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Smitty
Target: Kiel, Germany
MACR: 8463

More information

John Richardson was a musician.

John Richardson enlisted at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, on 30 March 1943.

The airplane received a direct flak hit in the #1 engine. The engine burst into flames, which seemed to spread over the entire aircraft. The left wing disintegrated as the plane went down. One crewman reported that this plane exploded near the ground.

One crew member survived and was taken prisoner. Seven men were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.findagrave.com, www.fold3.com

Photo source: www.findagrave.com