Memorial

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"Just after leaving the target aircraft 42-95588 made a turn to the right as briefed. About one minute later, the only observation we had was the aft portion of the ship from front bomb bay back, burst into flames. The aircraft then pulled up slightly and dropped off on its left wing and went down. Gunners watched it as far as possible and saw only three parachutes come out, and as they stated the entire ship was consumed in flames."

"Graduating from the Oilton, Oklahoma high school, Lt Rickner attended Oklahoma A&M and did premedical work at Denver university before volunteering for the medical corps in September, 1940. In January of 1942 he transferred to the air corps and received his commission at Midland October 15, 1942. He came to Big Spring as one of the first bombardier instructors and served in that capacity at Childress and the central instructors school at Midland. He left the States January 23, 1943 and had made seven missions when he was reported missing. No trace of Lieutenant Rickner was reported until November 1947, when the Department of Defense informed Mrs. Rickner her husband´s remains had been discovered in ruins of his plane by a German civilian, who buried them. He later was buried in an American cemetery. 5-Year-old Eric Ethan Rickner was presented the Air Medal, medals for American Defense Service, American Campaign, European-African-Middle Eastern campaign with two Bronze Stars for the entral Europe and Rhineland campaigns, the World War II Victory Medal and a sharpshooter Badge awarded his father, Lt Roy R. Rickner."