Lapham Richard L Lt

Assigned Aircraft	P-51D 44-14586 "Phyllis Jean"
Mission History	36 missions
Mission List	Not Known
Air Scores	1-0-0
Ground Scores	0-0
Score Detail	13 September 1944 Me-109 destroyed (air) Erfurt
Notes	From Florida. 03 August 1944 - Joined the 38th Fighter Squadron MACR No. 10331 Capt. Dorman L. Castle reported: "I was leading Yellow section of Program squadron with Lt. Lapham as my element leader. We were flying on a course of between 330 and 350 degrees at approximately 500 to 1000 feet, flights in trail stacked down. We crossed a large river about 300 to 400 yards to the right of a four or five span bridge of which two spans were partly in the water. As we crossed to the north side of the river, light flak sprayed the area inside our squadron. I broke up and slightly to the left into the clouds at approximately 1,500 feet." "As I broke I glanced down and saw a ship, probably Lapham's below me and heading in the same direction and it appeared to be heading down at a slight angle. I could not see anything wrong with it and was apparently under control. I then went into the clouds and did not see any other ships except my number two and four men who were still with me." Lt. Lapham was probably downed by flak near Werkendam, Holland. The mission was bomber escort to Siegburg, Germany, and then strafe. Lt. Lapham is buried at Plot B, Row 43, Grave 28, in the Ardennes American Military Cemetery and Memorial, Neupre, Belgium. Reproduced with kind permission of Mr. Robert M. Littlefield from the author's book Double Nickel - Double Trouble
Memories
Additional Photo	Lt. Lapham's grave at the Ardennes American Military Cemetery and Memorial, Neupre, Belgium. (Paul Patist) Nb. Photo opens in a new window. Close window to return to this page.