SSGT. Richard Kellogg "Dick" Riddle was a Radio Operator and Gunner with the 310th Bombardment Group; 379th Bombardment Squadron. The 310th Bomb Group was en route to their 1st Overseas Base when tragedy struck.

His Hometown was Delaware, Delaware County, Ohio.

379th BS War Diary: Additional Information for December 1942
SUBJECT: Squadron History.
31 December 1942

Two planes were wrecked shortly after take-off at Presque Isle, Maine on September 22, resulting in the complete loss of those planes and crews. Personnel on those ships were:

B-25C; 41-13098 (ROAA-?)
2nd Lieut. Ralph L. Drogula, pilot
2nd Lieut. James Q. Crocker, pilot
S/Sgt Joseph (NMI) Martino, gunner
S/Sgt Billy John Hill, gunner
S/Sgt William H. Finch, gunner
S/Sgt George Edgar Simmons, gunner
S/Sgt Lawrence R. Robinson, gunner
CRASHED: 7 mi NNE of Presque, ME
KCRSF = Killed in a CRash due to structural failure

B-25C; Serial No. 41-13049 (ROAA-?)
2nd Lieut. John F. Watson, pilot
2nd Lieut. John W. Rives, Jr., pilot
S/Sgt John S. Delano, gunner
S/Sgt James A. Kvis, gunner
S/Sgt Richard K. Riddle, gunner
S/Sgt Eugene J. Crozier, gunner
Sgt Frederick W. Rowbottom, bombardier
CRASHED: 5 mi W of North Wade, ME
KCRSF = Killed in a CRash due to structural failure
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On September 22, 1942, a U. S. Army B-25C bomber, (41-13098), left Presque Isle Maine Army Air Base en-route to overseas duty in England when it crashed in the nearby town of Fort Fairfield, Maine, off Fort Fairfield, Road. All seven crewmen aboard were killed.
The plane was said to be flying in poor visibility conditions.

Civilian witnesses stated they saw the aircraft burst into flames while still in the air.

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On September 22, 1942, during transit to Europe, the B-25's of the 379th Bomb Squadron, departed the airfield at Presque Isle, Maine for a flight leg to Gander, Newfoundland.

Bad weather at Gander forced the group of bombers to return. But the medium twin engine bomber crashed, due to a structural failure, seven miles northeast of Presque Isle.

That day, two German sympathizers were arrested at the Presque Isle Army Airfield for tampering with a B-17.

Another B-25 crashed on the same day, also from mechanical failure, leading to the belief that both B-25's were the victims of sabotage.

Richard K Riddle