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Personal info

Full name
STAYTON, Richard Arthur
Date of birth
1921
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Oakland, Alameda County, California
Hometown
Alameda County, California

Military service

Service number
O-1172673
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
353rd Fighter Squadron,
354th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
8 November 1944
Place of death
Near Wiesbaden, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 34 49

Immediate family

Members
Charles F. Stayton (father)
Mary Stayton (mother)
Charles Stayton (brother)
Katherine Stayton (sister)
Jaqueline (Lunsford) Stayton (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
43-7163
Data
Type: P-51B
Nickname: Dahlberg's Dilemna
Destination: Wiesbaden, Germany
Mission: Dive Bombing
MACR: 10186

More information

Richard Stayton was an architect.

He joined the Field Artillery of the National Guard in Oakland, California, on 3 March 1941. He later transferred to the Air Corps.

Statement from 1st Lt Harlow R. Elured, who flew in the same mission: "I was flying no. 3 position on White Flight on 8 November 1944. After pealing off at 10,000 feet for my bombing run on an airdrome near Wiesbaden, Germany. I saw a silver ship explode at approximately 4,000 feet. This ship, I assume, was my wingman, 2nd Lt Richard A. Stayton, as he was the only one missing on that mission. However, I was not close enough to make a positive identification. I can give no explanation of the fact that my wingman left my wing and made his own dive-boming run. The time this incident took place was 1100 hours."

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, WWIImemorial, NARA

Photo source: www.findagrave.com