World War II Honoree

Richard Carl Austin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

St. Clair, Michigan

Honored By

Shirley Ellen Austin

Relationship

Wife

ENLISTED ON OCTOBER 2, 1942. TRAINED AND PROMOTED THROUGH RANKS TO 1ST LIEUTENANT. PILOT, AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, B-24 AIRCRAFT, 4-ENGINE HEAVY BOMBER, CERIGNOLA, ITALY. SAN GIOVANNI AIRFIELD, 15TH ARMY AIR FORCE, 454TH BOMB GROUP HEAVY, 738TH BOMB SQUADRON HEAVY. SERVED IN 29 COMBAT MISSIONS. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS FOR RETURNING CREW AND BADLY SHOT UP AIRCRAFT TO FRIENDLY TERRITORY WITH ONLY ONE OF FOUR ENGINES OPERATIONAL; THE AIR MEDAL WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE STAR FOR ANTI-SUBMARINE PATROL OUTSIDE CONTINENTAL U.S. AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 5 BRONZE STARS FOR CAMPAIGNS OF NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, NORTHERN FRANCE, GERMANY, BALKANS, HUNGARY, AUSTRIA AND PO VALLEY, NORTHERN ITALY; WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION IN GERMANY, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS 1944; DESTRUCTION OF HERMAN GOERING STEEL WORKS IN LINZ, AUSTRIA (TANKS AND ARMAMENT PRODUCTION) AND MAY 24, 1944 DESTRUCTION OF MESSERSCHMITT AIRCRAFT FACTORY IN BAD VOESLAU, AUSTRIA; CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION COLD WAR VICTORY, BERLIN AND CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE AIR WAR OVER FRANCE 1944-1945. RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE WITH THE 'RUPTURED DUCK' LAPEL PIN ON NOVEMBER 3, 1945.