Richard Edward Thomas was born on March 23, 1922. served in the 782nd Bomber Squadron, 465th Bomber Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator on the B-24G #42-78322 during World War II.

On August 3, 1944, his crew took off from Pantanella, Italy, on a bombing mission over Friedrichshafen, Germany. On their return, they were attacked and shot down by German aircraft. His aircraft crashed 200m north of the Lermoos Village Church, region of Tyrol, Austria. None of the crew members survived.

2Lt Thomas is now buried in the Longmeadow Cemetery, Longmeadow, Hampden County, Massachusetts, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.tracesofwar.com, www.honorstates.org