Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War Purple Heart and Air Medal group of five awarded to 2nd Lieutenant Earl M. Richardson, U.S.A.A.F., a B-24 Bombardier and aircraft commander who was killed in action on 20 June 1944, when 856th squadron lost 11 out of 12 aircraft during an attack on oil refineries at Politz, Germany

United States of America, Purple Heart, gilt and enamel, slot brooch, engraved ‘Earl M. Richardson’, in case of issue; Air Medal, bronze, with two oak leaf cluster emblem on riband, slot brooch, in case of issue; American Campaign Medal 1941-45, bronze, crimp brooch, with lower portion of box of issue; European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, bronze, in box of issue; Victory Medal 1945, bronze, in box of issue, very fine or better (5) £300-£400

Earl M. Richardson, from New Mexico, initially joined the U.S. Army Air Forces, for basic training at Alamogordo, New Mexico. From there he was sent to 330th Combat Crew Training school in Biggs, Texas, training as a B-24 Liberator bombardier and joining crew #1637. On 3 Mar 1944, the crew was transferred to 856th Bomber Squadron, 492nd Bomber Group (Heavy) where it was re-designated crew #610 (pilot 1st Lieutenant John R. Curtis). The squadron left for England on 1 April 1944, and would be stationed at North Pickenham, Curtis Crew’s B-24J being given the name, “The Mary Ellen”.

Flying their first mission, an attack on an oil refinery at Zeitz, Germany on 12 May, Richardson would take part in a further 14 missions over targets in France and Germany between then and 18 June 1944. On the morning of 20 June 1944, 35 aircraft of 492nd Group, led by Major Losee, 856th Squadron’s Commander, took off for an attack on an oil refinery at Politz, Germany. As protection, the bombers were to be covered by fighters from 14th and 2nd Wings, however, while on route to the target, an error with timing a switchover left the Bombers exposed for a short time. The Luftwaffe took advantage of the situation, German fighters swooping in for the attack, randomly targeting the left side of the Group flown by the 856th Squadron. Within minutes, 856th Squadron alone lost 9 of its 12 aircraft and by the time the Group reached the target, the 856th only had 2 planes left while the other two squadrons had not lost any. Despite heavy flak and fighter attacks, the bombers were able to hit their targets and head for home, but the cost had been heavy and the mission would become the Bomb Group's worst day of the war. The Group had lost 14 crews, with the 856th squadron being almost completely wiped out, as 11 of the lost crews were their’s. “The Mary Ellen” was one of the aircraft that was lost, 2nd Lieutenant Richardson being killed along with the rest of the crew. It was his 16th combat mission.

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