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name
ZEIGLER, Richard Harold - Date of
birth
5 January 1924 -
Age
21 -
Place of birth
Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Annville, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-779280 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
577th Bombardment Squadron,
392nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
9 February 1945 - Place of
death
North Sea
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Harvey F. Zeigler (father)
Susan W. Zeigler (mother)
Carl W. Zeigler (brother)
Betty J. Hostetter (sister)
Merlin H. Zeigler (brother)
Melvin R. Zeigler (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-28841 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: The Philly Folly
Destination: Magdeburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the BRABAG oil refinery
MACR: 12216
More information
2nd Lt Richard H. Zeigler was a mechanic.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on 23 November 1942.
1st Lt K.E. Cline, gave a brief account on last seeing this aircraft: "Aircraft 841 was seen to peel off and head back toward the Continent at 1354 hours (52-40N; 04-15E) at 14,000 feet. Ship was probably low on gas."
There were no German reports on this loss or other U.S. force sightings. It is speculated beyond a reasonable doubt that this aircraft and crew went down in the North Sea. This reasoning stems from the fact that the bodies of four crewmen eventually washed ashore.
The entire crew of nine was killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, www.B24.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Joel Frampton Gilfert