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Personal info

Full name
HOWELL, Richard A
Date of birth
1924
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Tennessee
Hometown
Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee

Military service

Service number
17046890
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
527th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
28 July 1943
Place of death
Vries, The Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
J 8 14

Immediate family

Members
Charles E. Howell (father)
Mary (Harris) Howell (mother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-29796
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Kassel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Fieseler aircraft factory
MACR: 1761

More information

Richard A. Howell attended high school for 2 years. He was employed by an electric company in Ashley, Illinois. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri on 15 May 1942.

His father who lived in Decatur, Alabama, was an instructor at the Southern Aviation School.

The plane was damaged by flak and fighters.

Richard A. Howell was initially buried with military honors at the cemetery of Vries on 31 August 1943.

Seven crew members were killed, three evaded capture.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.newspapers.com - The Tennessean

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Harry Wouters