Richard J. Adam was born on March 2, 1915, in Mechanicsville, Camden County, New Jersey. He was one of six children, Richard, his brothers: Jack and Robert, and sisters: Peggy, Betty, and Jane. In 1933 his mother moved the family to the West Chester, Pennsylvania area, to operate the Red Maples Farm in Greenhill.

After the attack on our country at Pearl Harbor, Richard and Robert gave up farming, sold their dairy equipment, and enlisted, even though they could easily have obtained an exemption from the draft as farm workers. Richard enlisted in the Army Air Forces and Robert in the Navy.

Richard began training in March 1942. In January 1944, he married Miss Bette Dowdell of West Washington Street, West Chester. They were married in Tonopah, Nevada, where he was then stationed.

Richard was sent overseas to the European Theater in North Africa in March 1944. Richard flew 30 missions. At the time of his death, he was serving in the 353rd Bomber Squadron, 301st Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on the B-17 #42-97580.

On May 29, 1944, his crew took off from Lucera Airfield in Italy on a mission to bomb the Aerodrome in Wollersdorf, Austria. Their bomber was heavily hit by flak (anti-aircraft fire), and the aircraft exploded en route to the bombing site. Of the ten members who parachuted out of the flak-damaged and burning aircraft, 2 were killed, 5 were rescued by partisan forces, 2 were captured and taken as prisoners, and 1 died of wounds. Sgt Adam was killed in this incident. He is now buried in the Woodlawn National Cemetery, Elmira, Chemung County, New York, in the same grave as Sgt Paterson.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com