Robert Elsworth Richards was born on August 23, 1923, in DeKalb County, Indiana. He was the son of Charles W. Richards and Georgia L. Bradley Richards. He was married to Glada Marie Beck Richards. He served in the 32nd Bomb Squadron, 301st Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-17G #44-8186 nicknamed ''Sugar Report'' during World War II.

On December 26, 1944, the B-17G “Sugar Report” took off from Lucera, Italy, for a bombing mission aimed at the Blechhammer oil refinery in German-occupied Poland. During the operation, the aircraft was heavily damaged by German flak, but managed to stay airborne after the crew manually released the bombs. Unable to return to base, the aircraft made a successful emergency landing near Hatalov, Slovakia, where the crew was aided by local civilians and Soviet troops. After spending 51 days in the area, all ten airmen were safely repatriated by mid-February 1945, and continued in it's duty till the end of the war in Europe.

SSgt Richards died on November 23, 1973, and is now buried in the Olive Cemetery, Wakarusa, Elkhart County, Indiana, USA.

Source of information: www.dnes24.sk, www.findagrave.com