Richard L. Bedford Collection

Biographical Information

Gender

Male

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War or Conflict

World War, 1939-1945

Military Status

Veteran

Dates of Service

1942-1945

Entrance into Service

Commissioned

Branch of Service

Army Air Forces/Corps

Unit of Service

350th Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, 8th Air Force

Location of Service

Nashville, Tennessee; Macon, Georgia; Moultrie, Georgia; Avon Park, Florida; Tallahassee, Florida; Raydon, England; European Theater

Highest Rank

First Lieutenant

Prisoner of War

Yes

Service History Note

The veteran flew 65 combat missions and was shot down on his 65th mission, 6/12/1944. He evaded capture until 08/1944. He was imprisoned in Paris. His prison was evacuated just before Paris was liberated by American troops. He was then sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp until 11/1944 when he was sent to Stalag Luft III. He was forced to march out of Stalag Luft III 01/1945 and march to Nuremburg and then to Moosburg, Germany. They were liberated in 04/1945.

Collection Information

Type of Resource:

Video: Hi-8/Digital 8 [2 items] -- Oral history interview

Manuscript: Correspondence [2 items] -- Typewritten document

Manuscript: Printed matter [1 item] -- Handwritten document

Photograph: Digital print [4 items] -- Photograph

Interviewer:

Dan Mook

Contributor:

Cheryl Minchella

Contributor Affiliation/Organization:

Preferred Care

Collection #:

AFC/2001/001/46449

Subjects:

Bedford, Richard L.

World War, 1939-1945--Personal Narratives

United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.

Prisoner of War--United States

Cite as:

Richard L. Bedford Collection
(AFC/2001/001/46449), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress