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Lieut Billy E Richards

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Lieut Billy E Richards

Birth	:	26 Jun 1917 Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, USA
Death	:	23 Aug 1944 Indonesia
Burial	:	Woodston Cemetery, Woodston, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.4375000, -99.1268997
Plot	:	Look Near His Parents: William Richards & Cora M Chapel
Description	:	=========================================================== In late September or early October of 1944, Mrs. Billy Richards received a letter from Lt W. B. Rogers of the 39th Fighter Squadron, writing from APO 920, New Guinea, explaining Billy's death. A full copy of the letter is provided, the last paragraph reads: "I am not one to do any flag waving over this or anything else, but if there was ever a case of a man's dying for his country, bravely, overcoming fear, knowing the risk he was taking, and going ahead in spite of it, this is it. The purpose was accomplished, though he paid for it... Read More	=========================================================== In late September or early October of 1944, Mrs. Billy Richards received a letter from Lt W. B. Rogers of the 39th Fighter Squadron, writing from APO 920, New Guinea, explaining Billy's death. A full copy of the letter is provided, the last paragraph reads: "I am not one to do any flag waving over this or anything else, but if there was ever a case of a man's dying for his country, bravely, overcoming fear, knowing the risk he was taking, and going ahead in spite of it, this is it. The purpose was accomplished, though he paid for it with his life. Billy was not one to do anything rashly. To some it seems a little strange and a quirk of fortune that one so quiet and reserved should meet death in such a dramatic fashion. "Still waters run deep" and Billy was capable of anything which he felt it was his duty to. That he proved. I pray that you may look to God in your grief and find the solace that is there." Sincerely, W. B. Rogers, APO 920, Sep 21, 1944 =========================================================== In November of 1944 this article appeared in the Colorado School of Mines Alumni magazine on pg 586: "Details of the death of Lt. Billy E. Richards, '41, which occurred over New Guinea on August 23 reached his wife in Denver only recently. Other officers in the fighting unit (flight element), led by Lieutenant Richards, on a bomber escort mission wrote that his plane had been seriously damaged during a strafing attack on Jap machine-gun positions. Knowing the could not escape crashing he flipped the plane over on the back, wheeled sharply and came back over the target with all guns firing until the plane ploughed into the Jap-infested jungle. He was not required by orders to attack the Jap position but he had spotted the machine gun nests and decided to destroy them in an effort to protect other flyers sent on missions over the area and he also accounted for many enemy dead and damage to the enemy position. Upon his graduation from Mines in 1941 with a degree of Geological Engineer, Lt. Richards accepted a position with United Geophysical Company from which he secured a leave in March 1942 to enter the Service. He was in training at the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center, Parks Air College, East St. Louis Army Air Field, Independence, Kansas, and the Advanced School at Eagle Pass, Texas where he received his commission and wings in July 1943. He was then sent to the Air Base at Thomasville, Georgia with a fighter squadron and then to Tallahassee, Florida from which he was transferred to California last December and immediately sent overseas with a fighter group. In June 1944 he was promoted to 1st Lt and was later decorated with the Air Medal for meritorious achievements in combat duty. He had 86 missions and 210 combat hours to his credit. Lt Richards was born and reared in Woodston, Kansas. He was married September 13, 1942 to Miss Bonnie Baird of Denver who is now with her mother at 1684 Harrison Street, Denver. He is also survived by his mother, Mrs. Cora M. Richards of Lyons, Kansas, five sisters and five brothers." Source: "The Mines Magazine", Nov 1944, pg 586, Colorado School of Mines Alumni, Denver, CO ========================================================== The 39th Fighter Squadron (Cobras), 35th Fighter Group, at the time of Billy's death were at APO 920, Base H, Biak Island, Dutch New Guinea. In the Pacific they were the first to fly P-38 Ligthenings, and then the first to fly P-39 Cobras, and finally were flying P-47 Thunderbolts until the end of the war. Charles Lindbergh even visited the squadron to help them with the P-47 transition to learn fuel management techniques. Billy flew P-47 Thunderbolts. "Cobra in the Clouds" by John Stanaway (page 26) says that Billy arrived with a group of 8 new fighter pilots in Jan 3-4 of 1944. His group included 4 with prior squadron time: 2Lt's Maurice Boland, Telesphore Graber, John Lockhart and Billy Richards after a tour in P-39s in others squadrons of the 35th Fighter Group. 2nd Lts James Steele, Robert Thorpe, Fredrick Tobi and Marcus Trout were brand new to the theatre but had some previous time in P-47s." ========================================================== The squadron diary records on 23 Aug 1944, Billy was an element leader with wingman Robert Rohrs in a flight of 4 led by Lee Grosshuesch. They each carried two 500 lb. bombs. Billy's P-47 "was heavily hit and crashed 3 miles North of Jefman Island" the target of their bombing mission that day. Diary sources: Lewis Lockhart and Jack Frost, (also on the same mission that day -but different flights - they looked briefly for Billy that day but the target area was still "hot" and "hostile".) Bill R Pottorf was named after Billy and adds that "Billy was a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot and a flight leader in his squadron. He led them to the Japanese nest and was hit, flying the plane into a loop above the nest and back into it, according to the pilots who followed him. They had been looking for that nest for sometime, finally finding it. The Japanese were torturing POW's then and Billy made a quick decision, the wrong one for us, but the right one for him and the rest of the country." Bill R Pottorf, Colorado School of Mines Class of '65 =========================================================== MIA/KIA 3 mi. North of Jefman Island Indonesia. (plane and remains never found) 86 Missions. 210 Combat Hours. Air Medal. Purple Heart. =========================================================== The American Cemetery in Fort McKinley, Manila, Philippines is the largest cemetery in the Pacific for World War II deaths - it contains a Memorial for Missing In Action (tablets) - Billy's name and other MIAs are on these tablets - according to the American Battlefield Monuments Commission. =========================================================== Memorial info/photos provided by David S. Elliott, CAPT, USN Retired (1Lt Billy E Richards was my great-uncle - the "baby" brother of my grandmother Wilma "Pat" Richards McClain). If you have any questions, corrections, or suggestions please contact me on either via email me at [email protected]

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Lieut Billy E Richards's memorial?
Lieut Billy E Richards's memorial is located at: Woodston Cemetery, Woodston, Rooks County, USA.
When did Lieut Billy E Richards death?
Lieut Billy E Richards death on 23 Aug 1944 in Indonesia
Where are the coordinates of the Lieut Billy E Richards's memorial?
Latitude: 39.4375000
Longitude: -99.1268997

Family Members:

Parent

William C “Will” Richards Jr.

(1874 - 1933)

Cora Maude Chapel Richards

(1873 - 1957)

Spouse

Siblings

George S Richards

(1900 - 1977)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Woodston Cemetery
Woodston, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4375000, -99.1268997

2. Survey Cemetery
Woodston, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3722000, -99.1333008

3. Spring Branch Cemetery
Woodston, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5099983, -99.0580978

4. West Hope Cemetery
Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5024986, -99.2110977

5. Ash Rock Cemetery
Woodston, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5248909, -99.0817719

6. Pleasant Valley Cemetery
Osborne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4583015, -99.0077972

7. Johnson Cemetery
Stockton, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3493996, -99.1941986

8. Stockton Cemetery
Stockton, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4406700, -99.2647400

9. Saint Thomas Cemetery
Stockton, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4449997, -99.2771988

10. Chalk Mound Cemetery
Laton, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3208008, -99.0852966

11. Pleasant Plain Cemetery
Osborne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3367004, -99.0372009

12. Pioneer Cemetery
Alton, Osborne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4742012, -98.9749985

13. Mount Ayr Cemetery
Alton, Osborne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3764000, -98.9717026

14. Old Stockton Cemetery
Stockton, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4597015, -99.3050003

15. Bigge Family Cemetery
Stockton, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4584700, -99.3053200

16. Grant Center Cemetery
Alton, Osborne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5242004, -98.9708023

17. Sumner Cemetery
Alton, Osborne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4799995, -98.9338913

18. Pleasant Ridge Cemetery
Kirwin, Phillips County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5963000, -99.1234000

19. Aurora Cemetery
Laton, Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2778015, -99.0847015

20. Greenwood Cemetery
Kirwin, Phillips County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5931900, -99.2064600

21. Bow Creek Cemetery
Glade, Phillips County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5681000, -99.2696991

22. Twin Mound Cemetery
Rooks County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2855988, -99.2319031

23. Kill Creek Cemetery
Alton, Osborne County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3805528, -98.8967658

24. Leasburg Cemetery
Cedar, Smith County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5819016, -98.9728012