Richard J. Adam was born on May 29, 1915 in Merchantville, New Jersey. He was one of six children, Richard, his brothers: Jack and Robert, and sisters: Peggy, Betty, and Jane.
In 1933 his mother moved the family to the West Chester Pennsylvania area, to operate the Red Maples Farm in Greenhill (just north of the town off Rt. 29).
After the attack on our country at Pearl Harbor, both Richard and Robert gave up farming, sold their dairy equipment, and enlisted, even though they could easily have obtained an exemption from the draft as farm workers. Richard enlisted in the Army Air Forces, Robert in the Navy.
Richard began training in March 1942. In January 1944 he married Miss Bette Dowdell of West Washington Street, West Chester. They were married in Tonapah, Nevada, where he was then stationed.
Richard was sent overseas to the European Theater to North Africa in March 1944. He was a ‘belly' ball turret gunner in a B-17 bomber, one of the most hazardous positions on the aircraft. The turret had to be aligned exactly so the door could be opened for the gunner to extract himself. If it was damaged the gunner could not exit. And if the aircraft landing gear failed, or if the plane crashed landed, the belly gunner would have been crushed.
Richard flew 30 missions. His unit was moved to newly liberated bases in Italy in May. He met and had dinner with his brother-in-law Corporal Cotter who was stationed in Italy on May 27th.
On May 29th on a mission over Austria, his bomber was heavily hit by flak (anti aircraft fire) and the aircraft exploded. Originally he was listed as missing. Of the 10 members of the crew who parachuted out of the flak damaged and burning aircraft, 5 were rescued by partisan forces, 2 were captured, and 2 were killed.
Complete history of B-17 crew 139, including the survivors' visit to the crash site.
Sergeant Richard J. Adams was Killed In Action on May 29, 1944.
In 1933 his mother moved the family to the West Chester Pennsylvania area, to operate the Red Maples Farm in Greenhill (just north of the town off Rt. 29).
After the attack on our country at Pearl Harbor, both Richard and Robert gave up farming, sold their dairy equipment, and enlisted, even though they could easily have obtained an exemption from the draft as farm workers. Richard enlisted in the Army Air Forces, Robert in the Navy.
Richard began training in March 1942. In January 1944 he married Miss Bette Dowdell of West Washington Street, West Chester. They were married in Tonapah, Nevada, where he was then stationed.
Richard was sent overseas to the European Theater to North Africa in March 1944. He was a ‘belly' ball turret gunner in a B-17 bomber, one of the most hazardous positions on the aircraft. The turret had to be aligned exactly so the door could be opened for the gunner to extract himself. If it was damaged the gunner could not exit. And if the aircraft landing gear failed, or if the plane crashed landed, the belly gunner would have been crushed.
Richard flew 30 missions. His unit was moved to newly liberated bases in Italy in May. He met and had dinner with his brother-in-law Corporal Cotter who was stationed in Italy on May 27th.
On May 29th on a mission over Austria, his bomber was heavily hit by flak (anti aircraft fire) and the aircraft exploded. Originally he was listed as missing. Of the 10 members of the crew who parachuted out of the flak damaged and burning aircraft, 5 were rescued by partisan forces, 2 were captured, and 2 were killed.
Complete history of B-17 crew 139, including the survivors' visit to the crash site.
Sergeant Richard J. Adams was Killed In Action on May 29, 1944.
Richard J. Adam was born on May 29, 1915 in Merchantville, New Jersey. He was one of six children, Richard, his brothers: Jack and Robert, and sisters: Peggy, Betty, and Jane.
In 1933 his mother moved the family to the West Chester Pennsylvania area, to operate the Red Maples Farm in Greenhill (just north of the town off Rt. 29).
After the attack on our country at Pearl Harbor, both Richard and Robert gave up farming, sold their dairy equipment, and enlisted, even though they could easily have obtained an exemption from the draft as farm workers. Richard enlisted in the Army Air Forces, Robert in the Navy.
Richard began training in March 1942. In January 1944 he married Miss Bette Dowdell of West Washington Street, West Chester. They were married in Tonapah, Nevada, where he was then stationed.
Richard was sent overseas to the European Theater to North Africa in March 1944. He was a ‘belly' ball turret gunner in a B-17 bomber, one of the most hazardous positions on the aircraft. The turret had to be aligned exactly so the door could be opened for the gunner to extract himself. If it was damaged the gunner could not exit. And if the aircraft landing gear failed, or if the plane crashed landed, the belly gunner would have been crushed.
Richard flew 30 missions. His unit was moved to newly liberated bases in Italy in May. He met and had dinner with his brother-in-law Corporal Cotter who was stationed in Italy on May 27th.
On May 29th on a mission over Austria, his bomber was heavily hit by flak (anti aircraft fire) and the aircraft exploded. Originally he was listed as missing. Of the 10 members of the crew who parachuted out of the flak damaged and burning aircraft, 5 were rescued by partisan forces, 2 were captured, and 2 were killed.
Complete history of B-17 crew 139, including the survivors' visit to the crash site.
Sergeant Richard J. Adams was Killed In Action on May 29, 1944.
In 1933 his mother moved the family to the West Chester Pennsylvania area, to operate the Red Maples Farm in Greenhill (just north of the town off Rt. 29).
After the attack on our country at Pearl Harbor, both Richard and Robert gave up farming, sold their dairy equipment, and enlisted, even though they could easily have obtained an exemption from the draft as farm workers. Richard enlisted in the Army Air Forces, Robert in the Navy.
Richard began training in March 1942. In January 1944 he married Miss Bette Dowdell of West Washington Street, West Chester. They were married in Tonapah, Nevada, where he was then stationed.
Richard was sent overseas to the European Theater to North Africa in March 1944. He was a ‘belly' ball turret gunner in a B-17 bomber, one of the most hazardous positions on the aircraft. The turret had to be aligned exactly so the door could be opened for the gunner to extract himself. If it was damaged the gunner could not exit. And if the aircraft landing gear failed, or if the plane crashed landed, the belly gunner would have been crushed.
Richard flew 30 missions. His unit was moved to newly liberated bases in Italy in May. He met and had dinner with his brother-in-law Corporal Cotter who was stationed in Italy on May 27th.
On May 29th on a mission over Austria, his bomber was heavily hit by flak (anti aircraft fire) and the aircraft exploded. Originally he was listed as missing. Of the 10 members of the crew who parachuted out of the flak damaged and burning aircraft, 5 were rescued by partisan forces, 2 were captured, and 2 were killed.
Complete history of B-17 crew 139, including the survivors' visit to the crash site.
Sergeant Richard J. Adams was Killed In Action on May 29, 1944.
Bio by: suzan gordon
Inscription
two graves one stone
Other Records
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
