George D. Richards, World War II CasualtyPorter County Data on World War II Casualties . . . .
George D. Richards
Second Lieutenant, US Army Air Force
Date of Death: October 19, 1943
Cause of Death: Missing in Action (South Pacific)
Date of Enlistment: April 4, 1942
Monument: Manila American Cemetery Memorial, Manila, Philippines
Hometown: Valparaiso
Newspaper Notices:
Lt. Richards War Victim, Wife Learns
Lt. George D. Richards, 26, former Valparaiso man, reported missing in action in
the South Pacific on October 19 last, has been officially reported killed in
action.
This ill-tiding was received Tuesday in a telegram from the War Department by
Lt. Richards' wife, Mrs. Bette (Nogard) Richards, who is here on a week's
emergency furlough visit with her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Axel Nogard, St.,
Valparaiso RFD 4.
The telegram states that a letter would be following giving full details of his
death.
Lt. Richards was a pilot of a P-38 pursuit plane and prior to entering the air
corps on April 4, 1942, was employed at the Urschel Laboratories here. His
preliminary training was received at camps in California. He received his wings
and 2nd lieutenant's commission at Williams' field, Chandler, Arizona, on April
12, 1943. Later he was promoted to lieutenant.
Lt. Richards is believed to have lost his life during the fighting in the
Solomon islands campaign. He had been in the south Pacific since the spring of
1943.
Mrs. Richards to whom he was married on Nov. 13, 1941, has been taking training
at Avenger Field, Stillwater, Texas, to fit herself as a flight officer for the
Women's Auxiliary Ferry Command. She hd gone to Stillwater a week before she
received word from the War department stating her husband was missing in action.
Mrs. Richards is scheduled to finish her training and receive her commission on
June 27. She has been engaged in flying for the last two years.
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Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana;
May 11, 1944; Volume 17, Page 1 Column 4
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List of
Porter County World War II Casualties
Information abstracted and transcribed by Steven R. Shook