Richard Chester Bussell / Busse
MilitaryRichard C. Bussell was Pilot of B-24D 42-51112 on the 31 March 1945 mission to Brunswick, Germany. Hit by a German Me262 jet fighter, his Liberator had one engine out, its Navigator was badly wounded and Bussell tried to crash-land the ship. The wounded Navigator and the Top Turret Gunner were killed in the crash. The 8 other crew members, including Pilot Bussell, were made Prisoners of War. MACR 13735.
Note : As his name was too often written Russell, he decided after the war to change it into Busse – cf. pages 183-4 at http://library.hsutx.edu/researchcenter/Richardson/Chapter%2014.pdf
He was married to Wilma Kay (Tabor) Bussell (later Busse) - 1924-2008.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![Allen H Bryson, Sol Greenberg and Albert J Gehrt of the 453rd Bomb Group in their underwear after a mission. Handwritten letter enclosed with print: '1 [left] Allen H Bryson- Pilot, 2 [right] Albert H Gehrt- Bombardier, 3 [center] Sol Greenberg- Navigator. Part of the crew of "The Gypsy Queen", 733rd Sqdn. 453rd Bomb Group at Old Buckenham. Taken in long johns, pistol and parachute harness after returning from a mission.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380674.jpg.webp?itok=FeDJ5j6d)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37574497
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39277648
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13063119 at enlistment, then O-2059523
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38387437
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13146259
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Nose Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 31 March 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
3 January 1922 | Dawson County, Texas, the son of George Scott Bussell and Annie Lee (Polan) Bussell | |
|
Enlisted |
8 June 1942 | Lubbock, Texas | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
31 March 1945 | After the crash-landing of B-24D #42-51112 between Tündern and Hamelin, 45km SW of Hannover, Germany. NARA WWII POW records : no data about detention. | |
|
Died |
21 October 1973 | Dallas, Texas | |
| Lamesa, Dawson County, Texas | |||
|
Buried |
Richard Chester Busse rests at the Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park, Dallas, Texas |
Revisions
MACR 13735
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII POW records
Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File : https://www.fold3.com/record/618735046-richard-busse-1922
https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/67392443/richard-chester-busse
Note : Page created for Richard C. Bussell on 27 September 2014 with source : "Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / The Liberator Men of Old Buc"
- - -
Update 29 March 2020, with correction of Surname Bussell instead of Russell.
MACR 13735
WWII Draft card
WWII POW records
pages 183-4 at http://library.hsutx.edu/researchcenter/Richardson/Chapter%2014.pdf
Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File : https://www.fold3.com/record/618735046-richard-busse-1922
https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/67392443/richard-chester-busse