Richard Harry Harms – Second Lieutenant, United States Army Air Corps

Courtesy of Rutgers University:

Richard Harry Harms was born on March 12, 1921, at West, New York, and died May 4, 1943, at Pennsville, New Jersey.

Attended Cliffside Park High School, West, New York and entered Rutgers in September 1938, receiving a BAdegree in May 1941.

Richard entered service January 26, 1942, U.S. Army Air Corps, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, March 24, 1942.

While at Rutgers, Richard was active in the History Club and German Club and was elected to Delta Phi Alpha, an honorary German Society. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in just three years.

In the service, he received his wings at Marianna Army Airfield, Florida before transferring to the Army Airbase at Municipal Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for advanced training. While on a routine flight over Pennsville, New Jersey, his aircraft exploded. The Army could not give any information as to the nature or cause of the incident. Richard was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with honors.

HARMS, RICHARD HARRY
2ND LIEUT 358TH FIGHTER SQUADRON AIR CORPS U S ARMY

• DATE OF DEATH: 05/04/1943
• BURIED AT: SECTION 8  SITE 6157 W H
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard