Lawrence Claire Richards, of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, was born on October 3, 1922. He served in the 506th Bomber Squadron, 44th Bomber Group, as a Sergeant and Left Waist Gunner on the B-24 #42-94999 during World War II.

Taking off at Station 115 airfield in Shipdham, England, the crew flew for a target mission to France on May 11, 1944. The marshaling yards at Mulhouse were the briefed primary target, but it was obscured by clouds, so several targets of opportunity were hit, including Orléans/Bricy Airdrome and Belfort marshaling yards. At 02:11 PM, their plane was shot down by an Me109 fighter, setting engines 1 and 2 on fire. The whole crew was able to jump out of the airplane before it crashed in the commune of Gaubert, France. Seven members were captured by the Germans, while three evaded, including Sgt Richards, through the help of the maquis. He was one of the 152 allied airmen and soldiers who were helped and hidden in the Freteval Forest camp by the French Resistance to evade German capture. He returned to the UK on August 16, 1944.

Sgt Richards died on February 12, 1987, at the age of 64. He is now buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net