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S/Sgt Richard Hearing enlisted in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on 15 September 1943.

S/Sgt Hearing was born in South Wales and came to Plymouth with his parents when he was still a boy. He was a graduate of Plymouth High School and worked in aircraft building factory before he enlisted. He received his basic training at Camp Blanding, Florida, and later in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He was awarded on of his Air Medals for "meritorious achievement" in bombing attacks on Geman military and industrial targets in the Battle of France.

Statement from 1st Lt. James R. Mettler:
"We were flying at an altitude of 27,800 feet, the time was 1231 hours, and our position was approximately at 48 deg 25 min North and 16 deg 47 min East. We were just coming off the target when I noticed plane No. 659 which had dropped slightly below the formation and continued on course. It had all four engines going. I last saw it sliding forward under and slightly to the right of the number four plane of our Squadron, it then passed from sight. I did not see plane No.659 again."

The entire crew bailed out and landed within ten mile radius of village of Dubova, Czechoslovakia. Nine were captured. Only S/Sgt Hearing was killed.