The 483rd Bomb Group Archive

Serviceman

Richard J Numedahl

815th

Play his story on the map built from his record

Army serial number
O-2066290
Rank
2d Lt (14 November 1944), 2d Lt (15 November 1944), 2d Lt (21 November 1944), 2LT (12 February 1945)
Hometown
Wykoff MN
Also written
Richard Numedahl
In the book
Heroes of the 483rd, p. 165
Sources
483bg-record, assoc-roster, heroes-book, macr-crew, morning-report · service record at 483bg.org
Flags. serial O-2065290 in morning reports differs by one digit from O-2066290; treated as the same man morning-report entries attached by surname+unit+initial (serial O-2065290); verify

Crews

Missions placed on him

A report lists him aboard, or his crew's history in Heroes of the 483rd dates the mission; the book is cited by page and not reproduced. The rest of his squadron's missions in his window are not placed on him by any document.

Awards

DateAwardGeneral orderRank then
12 February 1945Air Medal6182LT

From the general orders indexed by the Army Air Corps Library and Museum.

Aboard a lost aircraft

Morning reports

1 entry, first 15 November 1944, last 15 November 1944; grades seen: 2d Lt. The clerk's sentence is quoted as the machine read it from microfilm: "fr dy to DS" is from duty to detached service, "sk in hosp" sick in hospital, "asgd & jd" assigned and joined.

National Archives pages: roll 576472397 p. 3112

Statements, mentions and histories

Eyewitness statement, page 5: NUMEDAHL, Richard J · 20 February 1945
AFPIA 11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIR
File No. : 12451
Name of crew member:
NUMEDAHL, Richard J.
Rank:
2nd/1+.
Serial number:
0-2066290
Position: Crew (Bomber) or
Navigator
Did he bail out? Yes.
Where?
About pinety miles South East of Papa, Hungary.
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just pricr to or at time of loss of plane: "When we are
over friendly territory, l'11 give signal to bail out. Over Interphone,
Was he injured? L' don't know.
Where was he when last seen? In the Plane.
Any hearsay information: Yes. The German soldiers that captured me had said
that only nine parachute were sean floating down including mine,
i
actually accounted for eight and an ob ject that looked like a free
falling body going through the space. In all probability, it could have
been that his parachute failed to open.
Source:
My own deduction.
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: The German
Soldiers claimed that two parachute landed between the russian and the
German Line. The rest over in the friendly territory, It is very un-
likely that he landed there. 1 would thaink that He was the one nan
whose parachute had failed to open.
Total number of missions of above crew member:
Nine at ten
Dates and destinations if possible: 10-9-44(Monsehierbaum) Austria,
Salzburg, Austria, 10-17-14, Vianna, Austria, 10-18, 44 Verona, Italy-
10-19-44. Brod, Yugoslavia. Jan 21, 45. Begensburg, Garmany tan 22, 44
Vienna, Austria, 23, January. Moosebierbaum. Jan 31. 45.
Lechfele, air field, Gemanyl Feb 6, 1944. Vienna. 20 feb 45.
6-3861,AF

National Archives, MACR 12451, page 5 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

Eyewitness statement, page 8: NUMEDAHL, Fichard J · 20 February 1945
AFPPA- 11
I
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIR
File No.: 12451
Name of crew member:
NUMEDAHL, Fichard J.
Rank:
2nd/Lt.
Serial number:
Position: Crew (Bomber) or Flight (Fighter).
0-2066290
Navigator
Did he bail out?
Yes
Where? Approximatly 10 to 15 miles northwest of Kaposvar, Hungary
If not, why not?
Last contact or convercation just prior to or at time of loss of plane He and the
Bombardier were on the catwalk ready to jump.
Was he injured? Not up to the time of bail out.
Where was he when last seen? On the catwalk with the Bombardier.
Any hearsay information: It. Numedahl jumped, with the Bombardier (Lt. Stoner)
following. It. Stoner reported that as he was coming down he sew
Lt. Numedahl's chute trail but failed to blossom. Lt. Numedahl was
last seen by lt. Stoner as he fell into the trees. At the time no
further information could be obtained from the Russian Army.
Source: Lt. Marvin W. Stoner 0-780444 AC
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: None
Total number of missions of above crew member: 12?
Dates and destinations if possible: Last mission flown was 20 Feb. 1945
N/Y Florisdorfer, Austria
6-3861, AF

National Archives, MACR 12451, page 8 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

Eyewitness statement, page 10 · 20 February 1945
AFPPA-I
7 MAR 46
.
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIR
File No.: 12451
Name of crew member:
NUMEDAHL, !ichard J.
Rank:
2nd/Lt,
Serial number:
0-2066290
Position; Crew (Bomber) or Flight (ighterk:
Nevigatór
Did he bail out?
YES
Where' WE BAILED out FROM THE LEFT BOMB BAY. (1 JUMPED A
If not, why not? FEW SECONDS BEFORE HE DID.)
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane : HE WAS
IN GOOD SPIRITS WHEN WE BAILED. HE DIDNT SEEM TO BE EXCITED.
Was he injured?
NO.
BAY
Where was he when last seen? / SAW HIM COME OUT OFTHE BOMB: BUT / DIDN'T
SEE HIS CHUTE OPEN
Any hearsay information: RUSSIAN OFFICER'S AND MEN INTHE LOCAL
AREA SAID HIS CHUTE FAILED to OPEN. IF HE HAD SURVIVED
THE JUMP, WE SHOULD HAVE SEEN. WE WERE IN THE
AREA ABOUT TENDAYS. NO WORD WASEYER HEARD.
WE ASKED THE RUSSAA GENERAL IF WE MIGHT TRY
Source: TO LOCATE ENIDENCE OF HIS DEATH. THE RUSSIAN
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: GENERAL
SAID HED GIVEN ORDERS FOR THE FINDING AND
TO BURY DICK WHEN FOUND. (THE RUSSIANS BELIEVED
DICK DEAD -- HTS CHUTE FAILING To FULLY OPEN.)
Total number of missions of above crew member: 6 MISSIONS
Dates and destinations if possible:
? NOT KNOWN
6-3861, AF
(OVER)

National Archives, MACR 12451, page 10 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

Eyewitness statement, page 14 · 20 February 1945
AFPPA- 11
File No. : 12451
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIR
Name of crew member:
NUMEDAHL, Richard J.
REFERENCE #, AFPPA-
Rank:
2nd/-t.
Serial number:
C-2066290
Position: Crew (Bomber) or Flight Navigator
Did he bail out? YES
Where? APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE CITY OF KAPOSVAR AND
THE South
If
wots,
? END OF LAKE BALLATON IN HUNGARY
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane : THE NAVIGATOR
AND FILOI REMARKED ABOUT LAKE BALLATON AND SAID THEY THOUGHT WE WERE IN THE
VICINITY OFTHE RUSSIAN-GERMAN - FRONT.
Was he injured? NOT BEFORE BAILING OUT But WEWER FIRED ON WHILE PESCENDING IN
our PARACHUTES
Where was he when last seen? IN THE BOMBAYS Dy THE BOMBARDIEK Just PRICR TO JUMCING.
Any hearsay information: THE PUSSIAN SULDERS , IT SEEMEDTOME, TREDTO TELL us THAT
THEY FOUND NUMEDAHL DEAD AND THAT HIS PARACHUTE WAS UNOPENED.
NONE OF us (NINE SULRVIVED) SAW His BODY.
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: THE RUSSIANS
THOUGHT WE WERE GERMAN PARATFOOPS.IT MIGHT BE THAT HE WAS HIT BY SMALLARMS
FiRE But THAT WOULD PARTIALLY DISCREDIT THEABOVE STORY FROM THE
RUSSIANS.
Total number of missions of above crew member: APPROX, 10 or 12.
Dates and destinations if possible:
u KNOWN.
a - - 1
6-3861, AF

National Archives, MACR 12451, page 14 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

Eyewitness statement, page 16 · 20 February 1945
AFPPA-11,
INDIVIDUAL CASUALEY QBESTIONNAIR
File Mo. : 12451
Name of crew member:
Rank:
NUMEDAEL, lichard J.
2nd/-t.
Serial number:
Position: Crew (Bomber) (Fighter):
Navigator
Did he bail out? YES
Where?
OVER KAPOSUR, HUNGARY
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane: to ACCOUNA
LT. NUMEDAHL CHECKED All CREW MEMBERS AFTER WE WERE HiT I
ANSWERED OKAY" EVIDENTLY HEWAS NOT invered AT THAT TIME.
Was he injured? NAT To my know LEOGE.
Where was he whon last seen? I. NAVIGATORS position iN NOSE of PLANE
Any hearsay information:
NONE RUSSIANS SAIP LT. NUMEDALLY
FARACHUTE DiD NOT OPEN. REPARTED THEY BURIED HIM. LATER
HEARD His Family RESIEVED PISTURE ctris GRAVE FROM RUSSIAN
GOLERNMENT.
Source RUSSIAN ARMY COMMANDANT in TAPOSUR,HUNGARY SECTOR
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: SAMS AS ABOVE.
Total number of missions of above crew member: OVER FOURTEEN.
Dates and destinations if possible: No FNOWLEDGE
6-3861, AF

National Archives, MACR 12451, page 16 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

Eyewitness statement, page 28: NUMEDAHL, Richard J · 20 February 1945
AFPFA-il
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIR
File No. : 12451
Name of crew member
NUMEDAHL, Richard J.
Rank:
2nd/It,
Serial number:
0-2066290
Position: Crew (Bomber) or Navigator
Did he bail out ? YES
Where? Approximately FIVE MilES WEST oF KapisvARo, Hungary.
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane I SAID,
"
GET THE HELL OUT." ALSO obtained TRUE AlTiTudE & position.
Was
he injured? No INJURY pREVious To jump.
Where was he when last seen? IN AIRCRAFT pREVious To jump
Any hearsay information: Bombardier LEFT ship before Naviq
ATOR, SAW NAVIGATOR jump Anb OPEN buT NOTEd
ParachaTe
thaT it FAILEd To fill. RussiAN oFFICER Also observed
body LEAVE AIRCRAFT AND iNFORMEd us oF SI7ME
shute FAiLURE
Source : Bombardier and RussiAN OFFICER oF Field
GRADE.
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition: PictuRES
of body bEFORE burial; PICTURES oF gRAVE; MAPS OF
grave LOCATION RECEIVED oF squadron 4
months AFTER occurrence sent by Russian
72ny Command.
Total number of missions of above crew member: TWELVE
Dates and destinations if possible: Unknown
6-3861,AF

National Archives, MACR 12451, page 28 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

Know something about him?

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