Richard Stapleford was born in 1920 in North Carolina. He was the son of Floyd Augustus Stapleford and Orange Cleveland (Reel) Stapleford. Richard was the radio operator on C-46 #41-5204, assigned to the Air Transport Command, 1st Transport Group, 6th Transport Squadron. They were carrying cargo from Mohanbari, Assam, India to Yang Kai China. The plane had engine problems and went down in Chirdwin Valley India, killing the six men aboard. Because his remains were not recovered, Stapleford is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.
Tsgt Stapleford 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