WANN

Bio Image

Personal Details

  • Last Name: WANN
  • First Name Middle Initial: RICHARD L
  • Nick Name: Dick
  • Street:  10224 N MEADOW WOOD LN
  • Country &State:
  • City: ELWOOD, IN
  • State: 
  • Postal Code: 46036-8865
  • Phone: [765] 552 3739
  • E-Mail: 
  • Spouse: Ruth
  • Age when entered service:
  • Age first entered:
  • War or Conflict: WWII
  • Theater of operations:
  • Year:
  • Branch of Service/s: Army Air Corp
  • Years Served:
  • Date of Discharge / Retirement (circle):
  • Highest Rank: new_value
  • Military MOS (Job Descriptions): Pilot B-24 Liberator
  • What military medals received: PURPLE HEART,PRISONER OF WAR
Military Bio:

Aircraft was shot down by flak on misson to Magdeburg, Germany on Feburary 3rd, 1945. We lost 3 engines and traded altitude for distance while fuel was lost from left wing fuel tank. I bailed out in Vosges Mountain area near Zweibrucken, landed in no-man land. I evaded capture for 7 days with a broken ankle, fractured back, and frozen feet. Finally I was captured by SS Troops and was severely mis-treated while imprisoned in Zweibrucken and Heppenheim. We were liberated on March 27, 1945 by the 7th Army.

My Message to Future Generations: “Keep the faith in all adversarial conditions by thinking of survival as the only revenge against the enemy.” Richard used the GI Bill after leaving the Military at Purdue University and became an Industrial Engineer.

Post Military Occupation

  • Age when captured: 24
  • Date of Captured: 02/03/45
  • Place captured: Near Zweibrucken,
  • Camp/s held: ZWEIBRUCKEN HEPPENHEIM
  • Date Released: 03/27/45
  • Prisoner-of-war status: Liberated
  • Date of DEATH if deceased: 
  • AGE at death:
  • Died In Combat:
  • Died from complications of combat wounds:
  • Describe below Survivors Include: