Richard David Loomis

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

B-17 "Destiny's Child" #42-31812 was shot down by fighters and crashed near Chemnitz-Borna on 20 July 1944. Navigator Richard Loomis was found dead in Bahrmühle, near Chemnitz-Borna, Germany. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 7281.

Connections

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Units served with

401st Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

91st Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Winton William Blevins

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 38539322
Highest Rank: Sergeant
Role/Job: waist gunner

John Robert Butler

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

Richard Henry Hamilton

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 31252904
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner

Anson Melburn Riley

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 39410240
Highest Rank: Sergeant
Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

Joseph F Sammon

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

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Destiny's Child." of the 91st Bomb Group.

42-31812

Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
Nicknames: Destiny's Child
Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron

Missions

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 351st Bomb Group, including (RQ-P, serial number 42-97193) and (serial number 43-37920) fly through flak bursts during a mission. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Thoison '557' took pic 20/7/44. Star Duster DS-L MIA 6/8/44.'

484

Date: 20 July 1944

Places

Bassingbourn

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event	Date	Description
Born	29 September 1921	Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
Enlisted	19 September 1942	Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
Other Killed In Action (KIA)	20 July 1944	in the crash of B-17#42-31812, Bahrmühle, near Chemnitz-Borna, Germany
Buried	22 July 1944	in the Chemnitz-Ebersdorf cemetery
		Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
Buried		after the war Richard Loomis' remains were returned to the USA, where he rests at Arlington

Revisions

Date12 Mar 2020 15:04:28

ContributorED-BB

Changes

Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment Records
WWII Draft Card
MACR 7281
NARA Captured German Records :
German KU 2526 report at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/147890293

Date10 Mar 2020 04:02:53

Contributorjmoore43

Changes

Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:22:28

ContributorAAM

Changes

Sources

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