Posted By Moofy (Yvonne)UK on August 12, 2005 at 13:20:04:
In Reply to: LT. Richard Francis Brigham posted by Richard F.King on August 12, 2005 at 11:27:40:
: I am trying to find out information about the hero I
: am named for, Lt. Richard Francis Brigham.
: Lt. Brigham was my late fathers boyhood friend,
: and he gave his life for America in 1944 when his
: B17 was shot down over Germany, (he was 19 years old).
: The name of his plane was " THE COCK OF THE WALK"
: He was a member of the 388th Bomber Group.
: Does anyone have any information about him?
: I know very little about him, and wish only to honor
: his memory....Thank You, and God bless all our VETS!
Hi Richard,
2nd Lt. Richard Francis Brigham was with the 563rd Bomb Squadron of the 388th Bomb Group.
He was the Navigator on B-17 serial#
42-31781 'Cock of the Walk'.
This aicraft Failed To Return from the 388thBG Mission# 62 to Frankfurt, Germany on 4th Feb. 1944. Info below from the book 'The 388th At War' by Edward J. Huntzinger....
'Cock of the Walk' received a direct hit of flak on the right wing just before bombs away, causing the right aileron and stabilizer to be blown off. The plane flipped on its back and went down with the right wing in flame and disappeared in the clouds at 16,000 feet....
Pilot was Lt. Garrigues A. DeJan.
8 crew members KIA, 2 POW.
MACR 2350 (Missing Air Crew Report Number).
Contact me if you would like the crew list.
Cheers,
Moofy