Name:
Richard R. Collins
Rank:
Sergeant
Serial Number:
32099321
Unit:
322nd Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-08-08
State:
New York
Cemetery:
Brittany American Cemetery, St. James, France
Plot:
K
Row:
18
Grave:
18
Decoration:
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Comments:
Sgt Richard R. Collins, right waist gunner of the B-17 42-31367 “Chow Hound”, took off from Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, UK on a bombing mission over Bretteville-sur-Laize. An enemy “88” anti-aircraft burst of flak hit the aircraft, causing the tail section to separate from the fuselage. The main section was then seen to nose over and dove straight down in a spiral. The spin also caused a wing to separate and on striking the ground the aircraft burst into flames. He also has a cenotaph located in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.