World War II Honoree

Richard Tell Davidson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Honored By

Marlo Krueger

Relationship

Niece

HIS BASIC TRAINING WAS AT KESSLER AIR BASE, MISSISSIPPI, WITH AN ADDITIONAL FOUR MONTHS TRAINING AT FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, STUDYING AIRPLANE AND ENGINE MECHANICS. HE SERVED AS AN AERIAL ENGINEER (MAINTAINING CONSTANT CHECK ON MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS AND INSTRUMENTS, MAKING IN-FLIGHT REPAIRS, AND ASSISTING THE GROUND CREW WITH MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS) ON A C-47 WITH THE 7TH AIR FORCE, 19TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, CARRYING MAIL AND SUPPLIES. HIS SQUADRON SERVICED THE HAWAIIAN, LINE, PHOENIX, ELLICE, GILBERT, MARSHALL, AND CAROLINE ISLANDS. HE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE 'BOTTLE BOMBERS' WRITTEN UP IN THE APRIL 28, 1944 PACIFIC EDITION OF YANK. THE CREW THREW EMPTY SAKE BOTTLES THAT HOWLED 'LIKE A BANSHEE' OUT OF THE PLANE ONTO JAPANESE-HELD ISLANDS AND THEN STRAFED THE ISLANDS WITH SMALL-ARMS FIRE. FOR HIS SERVICE HE RECEIVED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE BATTLE STAR, AND THE WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL. HE WAS QUALIFIED ON A CARBINE AND ON COASTAL ARTILLERY.