Richard D. Zacharias was born on February 17, 1924 in Arnold, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He resided in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on February 19, 1943 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in warehousing and also as Single, without dependents. Richard served as a Sergeant and Gunner on B-24J #44-40783, 425th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II

B-24J #44-40783 took off, with a crew of 10 and 1 passenger, from Liuchow Airfield, China on a combat mission targeting shipping in Takao Harbor near Takao, Formosa (Taiwan). During this mission they were shot down by Japanese A6M Zeros and crashed into the sea. The entire crew was lost. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Sgt Zacharias was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov