Richard Henry Hamilton
Military9 at KU-865A at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/142687464
Richard Hamilton flew 9 missions as Radio Operator/Gunner. Shot down in B-17 "Destiny's Child" #42-31812 on 20 July 1944. Plane crashed near Chemnitz-Borna after being hit by fighters. Prisoner of War (POW) from July 20, 1944 to April 24, 1945. After interrogation at Dulag Luft, he was interned in Stalag Luft IV in Gross Tychow (Tychowo), Poland. Quoted : 'I served in the 91 BG + flew on 8 missions over Germany as RO on a B-17...'
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38539322
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18043858 at enlistment, then O-769095
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17120493 at enlistment, then O-717239
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39410240
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12157933 at enlistment, then T-2358
- Highest Rank: Flight Officer
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Destiny's Child
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 20 July 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
28 September 1922 | West Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont | |
Enlisted |
22 December 1942 | Rutland, Vermont | |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
20 July 1944 - 24 April 1945 | captured after bailing out of B-17#42-31812, near Chemnitz, Germany. Interned at Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow/Tychowo, Poland. NARA WWII POW records : “Returned to Military Control 12 June 1945.” | |
Born |
West Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont |
Revisions
Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a Separator to aid readability.
NARA WWII Enlistment Records
NARA WWII POW Records
WWII Draft Card
MACR 7281
NARA Captured German Records :
German KU 2526 report at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/147890293
VETERANS BIRLS Death File
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for clarity.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7281 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / self/MACR 7281