Richard Russell Faith was born on June 14, 1924 in Ronco, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Sarah J. Faith. He served in the 554th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator on the B26 #41-34947 RU*K "Lady Luck" during World War II.
On February 10, 1944, they took off from Station 164 in Great Dunmow, England on a mission to bomb V1 launch site at A-27, France. The plane was directly hit by a heavy flak located in the Bernaville area, north of the Crécy-en-Ponthieu forest in France. The flak shell hit the fuel tank of the starboard wing detaching the wing at the nacelle. From 8,000 feet the plane plunged towards the ground and burned. 5 crew members were Killed in Action (including TSgt Faith) and 1 became POW.
TSgt Faith is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. His name is commemorated on a monument located at Great Dunmow, England but his middle initial is inscribed as H.
B26 41-34947 "Lady Luck" crew:
1Lt Robert Bradford Spencer - Pilot (POW)
F/O Dayton B. Mitstifer - Co-Pilot
1Lt Arch A. Pine, Jr. - Bombardier
T/Sgt Richard R. Faith - Radio Operator
S/Sgt Gerard G. Bergeron - Mechanic
S/Sgt John L. Dorton - Rear Gunner
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net, www.americanairmuseum.com