Richard C Brookins
MilitaryFlew two tours as combat pilot, shot down twice and had to bail out a total of three times. Flew Spitfires, P-47’s and P-51’s, and always named his planes “The Duchess". Credited 4.25 destroyed [1.25 x Air, 3 x Ground]. On climb out for an operational mission the engine on P-47D 42-75250 exploded, pilot baled out A/C crashed near Thurlton. Returned to Duty (RTD). Shot down on mission but evaded and Returned to Duty (RTD).
Awards: LOM, DFC, AM, PH, WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medal.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 328th Fighter Squadron 334th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Nicknames: Hildegarde Patty II
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 328th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Duchess Duchess V
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 328th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Duchess VI Geraldine II
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 361st Fighter Group 328th Fighter Squadron 376th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Royal Air Force Bodney
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Glendale, CA, USA | 30 December 1918 | Son of Orerlle N and Marcia L Brookins. |
|
Other Promotion |
Bodney, Thetford IP26, UK | 14 August 1943 | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
|
Based |
Bodney | 27 September 1943 - 6 January 1944 | Assigned to 328FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Based |
Bodney | 6 January 1944 - 3 March 1944 | Transferred to HQ Sqn, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Crashed |
Norwich, UK | 21 February 1944 | Bale Out due to Engine Failure 10mi NE Norwich Cat 5 damage Lt Richard C Brookins, 21-Feb-44. P-47D 42-7997 - Hq 352FG 8AF |
|
Based |
Bodney | 3 March 1944 - 22 October 1944 | Re-assigned to 328FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other End Tour Duty (ETD) |
England, UK | 22 October 1944 | Ended Tour Duty (ETD). |
|
Other Crashed |
1510 Chennault Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76113, USA | 28 March 1951 | Landing Accident Carswell AFB TX Cat 2 damage Lt Richard C Brookins, 28-Mar-51. C-47A 42-23727 - 3902AMS 3902CG |
|
Died |
San Diego, CA, USA | 7 December 2003 | |
|
Other Graduated University |
Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA | Graduated Louisiana State University Jun-41 and went to work as a Stress Analyst at Lockheed Aviation in Los Angeles. | |
|
Buried |
Riverside, CA, USA | Riverside National Cemetery Riverside Riverside County California, USA |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/119961154/?terms=Richard%20C%20Brookins
https://www.fold3.com/page/77642088_richard_c%20brookins/details/
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbapi.asp?Pilot=Brookins%2C+Rich…
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8jm2g98/?query=Brookins
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=brookins&Submit=…
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=71818970
https://www.fold3.com/image/119961154/?terms=Richard%20C%20Brookins
https://www.fold3.com/page/77642088_richard_c%20brookins/details/
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbapi.asp?Pilot=Brookins%2C+Rich…
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8jm2g98/?query=Brookins
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=brookins&Submit=…
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=71818970
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / unit history, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces