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Personal info

Full name
NEWHOUSE, Richard Vansant
Date of birth
17 October 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Hometown
Indiana

Military service

Service number
O1703134
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
756th Bombardment Squadron,
459th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
20 July 1944
Place of death
The German part of Lake Constance, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
K 42 13

Immediate family

Members
Frank F. Newhouse (father)
Mary L. (VanSant) Newhouse (mother)
Mary C. Newhouse (sister)
John D. Newhouse (brother)
Vanda R. (Jacobs) Newhouse (wife)
Richard A. Newhouse (son)

Plane data

Serial number
42-52358
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Hell’s Belle
Destination: Friedrichshafen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factory
MACR: 6851

More information

2nd Lt Richard V. S. Newhouse volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army in Camp Forrest, Tennessee on 31 October 1942.

1st Lt John B. Davis Jr.:
On 20 July 1944 at 1058 hours over Friedrichshafen, Germany, I saw ship #42-52358, piloted by Lt. Hamlin peel off from our formation, while in the midst of heavy flak. Plane was last seen over Switzerland and was still under apparent control although crippled by flak.

T/Sgt Donald W. Anderson:
At first the only perceptible damage to plane from this fire, according to Anderson, was extensive damage to the co-pilot’s controls, which were virtually shot away. However, a short time later spraying gasoline was noticed on the flight deck and due to the imminent hazard of fire breaking out, crew bailed out of plane. A total time of approximately 5 minutes had elapsed between bombs-away and the abandoning of the plane. The plane was then at an altitude of approximately 15,000 feet and was flying over Lake Constance when the crew started bailing out. Seven of the nine members of the crew were either drowned or killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Next of kin Family Tree, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Caryl Osborn, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Jul.44.html

Photo source:
www.findagrave.com – Major M