Richard C. Andrews 1918-1944

ANDREWS, WILSON, FULLER

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/19/2010 at 20:35:16

Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Andrews of Gruver received a long distance telephone call from their son, First Lt. Richard Andrews, early Sunday morning from Shreveport, La. He was returning to Lakeland, Fla. From a cross country flight. He was promoted about six weeks ago from second Lt. to First Lt. His address is First Lt. Richard Andrews, 495 Bomb Squadron, Drane Field, Lakeland, Fla. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, August 19, 1943)

Gruver - Word has been received that 1st Lt. Richard Andrews is missing in action on May 11. He was stationed in England. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 25, 1944)

Gruver Man is Missing
Lieut. Richard Andrews Bombardier, Based in England Had Completed Several Missions
First Lieut. Richard C. Andrews, nephew of Mrs. Walter Wilson and grandson of Charles E. Fuller, both of Estherville, has been reported as missing in action since May 11, according to word received at Gruver by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Andrews.

Lt. Andrews was graduated from the Gruver high school and attended Estherville junior college where he received C.P.T. training. He entered service about two years ago and was an aviation cadet at the air corps replacement center at Santa Ana, Calif. He received his second lieutenant’s bars and wings as a bombardier at the Roswell army flying school. After receiving his wings, Lieut. Andrews was stationed at Camp Claiborne, La., at Drane Field near Lakeland, Fla. And finally at Tyler, Texas just before going overseas.

Andrews has three brothers in service, Pfc. Robert Andrews with the medical corps in England, Paul in the navy and Howard in the marines. Another brother, Harold, will register for selective service next month. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 25, 1944)

Lieut. Richard C. Andrews Killed, His Parents Learn
Meets Death While on Mission over Dunquerque
Lieut. Richard C. Andrews was killed in action May 11, 1944, according to word received Monday by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Andrews of Gruver. They had previously been notified that Lieutenant Andrews was missing in action May 11, 1944, on a bombing mission over Dunquerque, but this was corrected by the information received Monday. Lieutenant Andrews is one of five brothers, all of whom are in the service.

Lieutenant Andrews had gone on a bombing mission over Dunquerque on a B-26 Marauder as a member of a crew of six men.

Down in Channel
His brother, Pfc. Robert Andrews who at that time was stationed in England, later went to the base where his brother had been stationed and learned that the plane on which his brother was a bombardier went down in the English channel after being shot down over Dunquerque.

Five of the men on the plane had parachuted from the plane and were believed to be alive. This information led his parents to believe that Lieutenant Andrews might be a prisoner of war, although they never received official notice of that fact.

Lieutenant Andrews was a member of the Ninth air force and went to England in February, 1944. He was a graduate of the Gruver high school and entered the service Jan. 15, 1942, at which time he enlisted as a cadet. Before entering service he enrolled in the CPT school at Estherville. He also attended Estherville junior college and was for some time employed at the Gardston hotel.

Becomes Bombardier
Lieutenant Andrews was an aviation cadet at the air corps replacement center at Santa Ana, Calif., and received his second lieutenant’s commission and the wings of a bombardier at graduation from the Roswell army flying school at Roswell, N.M. Later he was stationed at Camp Claiborne, La., Drane field near Lakeland, Fla., and before going overseas was stationed at Tyler, Texas.

Andrews, who is a nephew of Mrs. Walter Wilson and a grandson of Charles E. Fuller, both of Estherville, is survived by his parents and four brothers, Howard who entered the Marine corps March 31, 1944; Eldon of the navy, who entered service July 22, 1943; Robert who entered service Sept. 4, 1941 and is a medical aid man attached to an armored infantry battalion somewhere overseas, and Harold, who entered the army service Aug. 15, 1944. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, February 8, 1945)

Memorial Will Be Held Sunday for Lt. Andrews
Patriotic Groups to Take Part in Service
Memorial services for First Lieutenant Richard C. Andrews, bombardier, will be held Sunday, March 11, at 2:30 p.m. in the Presbyterian church at Gruver.

The order of services has been planned as follows: Prelude, advancement of the colors, Psalm and the Common prayer by the rev. Albert Husted, Hymn “Jesus, Blessed Jesus” by the choir which will be followed by the reading of the scripture. The service organizations will rise and stand in tribute of silent prayer for one minute after which the hymn, “Sweet By and By,” will be sung by the choir.

Rev. Husted to Preach
After the reading of the obituary of Lieutenant Andrews a gold star will be placed on the service flag and the chaplain’s letter will be read. The Reverend Husted will preach the memorial sermon and the service will close with the singing of “My America,” benediction, taps, retirement of the colors and the postlude.

Lieutenant Richard C. Andrews, and the second of five brothers all in the service was born in Gruver, Sept. 15, 1918. He was educated in the Gruver high school and the junior college at Estherville. He enlisted in 1942 and received preliminary training at Bakersfield, Tulare, and Santa Anna [Ana].

Commissioned at Roswell
His training in aviation was completed at Roswell where he received a commission as second lieutenant. He was then sent to Lakeland, Fla., where he was promoted to a first lieutenant rating and served more than a year as an instructor in bombing. In February, 1944, he went overseas in the 495th Bombing Squadron. He was killed in action over Dunquerque, May 11, 1944. He has 24 missions and has been awarded three oak leaf clusters. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, March 8, 1945)