RICHARD LEE MANN

The Citadel Class of:	1944
Cadet Company:	M (4), M (3)
Age:	22
Born:	15-Dec-21 in Richmond, Virginia
Hometown:	Washington, Beaufort County, North Carolina
Family:	Mary Thomas Howard Mann Cherry (mother), Lawrence Mann (brother), Robert Mann (brother)
Rank:	First Lieutenant
Branch of Service:	U.S. Army Air Forces
Servicenumber:	O-677820
Entered the Service from:	North Carolina
Function:	Pilot
Company – Squadron:	568th Bomber Squadron
Unit – Group:	390th Bomber Group, Heavy
Plane data:	B-17G-15-DL 42-37890 BI-R “Big Friend”/”Rovin’ Ramona II” MACR 4169
(Serialnumber, MACR, etc.)
Date of death:	20-Apr-44
Status:	KIA
Place of death:	Crashed near Valognes, France
Spot:	see “other information”
Awards:	Air Medal, Purple Heart
Gravenumber:	Plot F Row 10 Grave 36
Cemetery:	Normandy American Cemetery
Biography:	not available
Other information:	Lieutenant Richard L. Mann Is Killed in Action Mrs. Mary Thomas Cherry has received a telegram from the War Department that her son, Lieutenant Richard L. Mann, has been killed in action over Europe. – Source: Washington Daily News, Washington, North Carolina, June 8, 1944. Crew Number: 11, Mission Number 89, Target La   Glacerie FR – Source: 390th Memorial Museum) MACR 4169 On April 20, 1944 the bomber B-17G 42-37890 took off from FRAMLINGHAM (AAF station 153) with a crew of ten airmen. They were part of the 568th Bomber squadron, 390th Bomber Group, 8th Air Force. Their plane had the names “Big Friend” and “Rovin’ Ramona II” painted on its   fuselage. Its identification letters were BI-R. This plane and crew were part of a 174 bomber formation which, after flying over London, was heading to the French coast. They were apparently targeting the flak positions in the Cherbourg area, especially the V1 and V2 launching sites. It was 1847 and their flying altitude was 18,500 at coordinates 49 deg. 36 min. N – 01 deg. 33 min. W, when they got hit by flak just after dropping their bombs near Cherbourg. The plane peeled off to the right of the formation and went down in a spin with at least one engine and a wing on fire. It then began to dive. Other crews in the formation reported that it exploded at that moment. The people of Brix who saw the bomber falling asserted that the remains mostly scattered around the lake know as “Genetel” but also around  “la Mare de Brix” and “l’Ectot”. Ten men were on board. Only one of them survived. Sergeant Jesse W. Roberts. -Pilot                                 1st Lt.   MANN Richard L. -Co-pilot                            2nd Lt. VAUGHAN John E. -Nose Turret Gunner           Pfc. KWOKA Valter J. -Bombardier                       2nd Lt. McKinnon Cameron -Radio Operator                  Cpl. ANDERSON Bernard A. -Top Turret Gunner             T/Sgt ROBERTS Jesse W. -Ball Turret Gunner             S/Sgt ZUCCO Raymond -Tail Gunner                       S/Sgt OVERSTREET Mark I. -Right Waist Gunner            S/Sgt HERMANAU Walter E. -Left Waist Gunner              T/Sgt WEDEMEYER Robert T. Let us salute these brave Airmen’s heroism and all those who, like them, fought through the Northern Cotentin to defend the land of France and Freedom. Let their memory not sink into oblivion. – Source: Sign on memorial marker placed in 2004 by the local community and located at the crossing of route D50 (route des Forges) and D119, Brix, Manche, France. Web page with photos.

Sources: American Battle Monuments Commission, The Citadel Archive & Museum, Mike Stannard ’65, France-Crashes 39-45, MACR 4169, WWII draft card (NARA), Sphinx 1941 & 1942

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