World War II Honoree

Richard Charles Archer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Sandra Gubicza Yarnall

Relationship

Niece

IN 1941, HE WAS SENT TO DOW AIRFORCE TRAINING, WHICH WAS A NEW BASE. IN FEBRUARY OF 1942 HE WAS SENT TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR TRAINING FOR OVERSEAS MANEUVERS, THAN ON TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC, THAN ON TO AUSTRALIA. IT TOOK 40 DAYS ON THE QUEEN MARY. ARRIVED AT BANKSTOWN, NEW SOUTH WALES IN THE PAINT SHOP. HE WAS CONTROLLING THE RESURFACING OF AIRCRAFT AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FABRIC AND PAINTING THE PLANES. IN 1944 HE WENT TO NEW GUINEA, PAPUA, TO PORT MORESBY TO BUILD A 7 MILE RUNWAY AT BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND. HE LEFT THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN MAY 1945 AND ARRIVED HOME IN PHILADELPHIA ON V-J DAY, AUGUST 14TH. THE WAR WAS OVER AND HE GOT OUT OF THE ARMY AIR FORCE AND WENT INTO THE ARMY RESERVES. HE WAS THEN RECALLED FOR THE KOREAN WAR.