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name
HUGHES, Richard Earl - Date of
birth
14 April 1914 -
Age
29 - Place of
birth
Grandview, Yakima County, Washington -
Hometown
Yakima County, Washington
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39184971 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner -
Unit
567th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 February 1944 - Place of
death
Wenigentaft, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 20 | 20 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William E. Hughes (father)
Rose Hughes (mother)
Lillie Hughes (sister)
Harry Hughes (brother)
Grace Hughes (sister)
Ruth Hughes (twin sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-100338 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Gotha, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft industry
MACR: 2943
More information
T/Sgt Richard E. Hughes worked in a factory for processing dairy products.He enlisted in Tacoma, Washington, on 5 August 1942.
Eyewitness said the aircraft was attacked and set on fire by fighters after leaving the target area, about 10 miles to the west, and then went into a spin.
Four of the crew successfully bailed out and were captured. Six were killed. Two bailed out but did not survive. The remaining members of the crew apparently perished in the fire at the rear of the aircraft.
The engineer reported that he saw Sgt Hughes bail out, but he did not survive the jump because his parachute failed to fully deploy.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card, 1920 US Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com