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name
SILAR, Richard Allen - Date of
birth
15 March 1915 -
Age
30 - Place of
birth
Pennsylvania -
Hometown
West York, York County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13067228 -
Rank
Corporal -
Function
Observer -
Unit
759th Bombardment Squadron,
459th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
unknown
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
3 June 1945 - Place of
death
Kalwang, Austria
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 18 | 59 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Francis E. Silar (father)
Effie V. (Senft) Silar (mother)
Glen Silar (brother)
Ruth Silar (sister)
Lorraine Silar (sister)
Jack Silar (brother)
James Silar (brother)
Dorothy M. (Dellinger) Silar (wife)
More information
Cpl Richard A. Silar attended high school for 4 years before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on 9 March 1942.The B-24 was flying through valleys at extremely low altitudes so that the crew members could make their observations. As the plane was approaching the little hamlet of Kalwang, Austria, the plane banked as the pilot chose an adjoining valley. That alternate valley quickly faded into a taller mountain, offering no outlet. The pilot desperately attempted to climb to a higher elevation, but the aircraft was no match for the steep incline. The plane was not be able to clear the crest of the mountain and inevitably crashed into it.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Stalzle Family Tree / 1940 Census / Public Member Stories Hailey Henson H
Photo source: -