Memorial

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2nd Lt Richard A. Beck graduated from Tucson High School and was a student atSan Bernardino Junior College in California when he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Los Angeles, California on 10 September 1942.

The airplane was hit by flak on the right wing, reported to have been a ground rocket, just after bombs away. Starboard engines began to flame and the plane was nosed over in a steep dive apparently in an effort to extinguish the fire. A few seconds later, it pulled up in a half roll, then did a split S and went down. Two parachutes were seen as it fell away in a tight spin. When last seen the plane was nearly enveloped in fire.

Seven crew members were killed. They were initially buried at the POW Cemetery of Dallgow-Döbertiz, near Berlin. Only two men bailed out and became POW. They survived the war.

From this cemetery, the remains of Lt Beck were evacuated to Ardennes on 7 December 1946. At that time he wasn't identified and he was reburied as Unknown X-4933. By comparison of his tooth charts, considering the place where he was buried in Germany and physical characteristics, his remains could be identified on 17 January 1947.