Richard H Cole
MilitaryAssigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. 44 x missions.
Lt. Col. Cole was assigned to the 303rd in the fall of 1943. At that time he held the rank of
Major, having been previously a Group Operations Officer with an anti-submarine command group stationed in Newfoundland.
Col. Cole was well qualified to take over the squadron and lost no time in getting into the swing of things. He is a fighting commander and has led his squadron on some of the most
outstanding of the 303rd's missions. He is well into his second operational tour and will continue until the war in this theater is concluded.
Col. Cole graduated from Rutgers University in 1938. He entered the Air Corps as a cadet and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in May, 1940.
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19094012 / O-760640
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bomber Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13081029 / O-772673
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19121399
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Myasis Dragon
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Mercy's Madhouse
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 398th Bomb Group 482nd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron 422nd Bomb Squadron 544th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Eight Ball III
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Missions
- Date: 30 June 1944
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
New Jersey | 30 May 1916 | |
Enlisted |
10 May 1939 | ||
Other Discharged USAF |
1 May 1962 | ||
Died |
31 January 1982 | ||
Based |
Molesworth | 11 April 1945 | Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Information taken from the 303rd Bomb Group Unit History.
https://www.fold3.com/image/161280289/?terms=44-8137
http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/209.pdf
http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/195.pdf
http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/199.pdf
http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/354.pdf
http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/309.pdf
http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/214.pdf
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roster