Richard H. Franken was born on May 26, 1924. He resided in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin prior to the war. Richard served as a Flight Officer and Pilot on B-24J #44-41293, 425th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #44-41293 took off, with a crew of 5, from Lushien, China on a fuel hauling mission to Rupsi, India. After one radio contact they were not heard from nor seen again. This B-24 had actually crashed in the dense jungle high in the mountains south of Imphal, India where it was discovered in March, 1973. Richard was first declared "Missing In Action" and his status was later changed to "Killed In Action" in the "Line Of Duty" after the B-24 was discovered.

Richard's remain were recovered in March, 1973, after the war, and he was interred in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia with the rest of his crew on December 7, 1973. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

Richard was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov