Kern County CA Archives Obituaries.....Richmond, James B. "JB" December 17, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com January 1, 2006, 10:09 pm The Bakersfield Californian Richmond, James B. "JB" 1918 - 2005 James B. Richmond (JB) Sept. 19, 1918 - Dec. 17, 2005 JB was born in Nella, AR, to James B. Richmond Sr. and Bertha Beatrice Richmond. JB began his education in Nella, AR and graduated from Maud High School in Maud, OK. JB joined the Air Force at the start of WWII, after basic and flight training, JB was assigned to the 8th Air Force in England. He flew 30 missions in B-17s over Germany. He then became eligible to return stateside. Instead he and his friend, Captain Stubbifield joined the Royal Air Force (British) and flew 7 missions in Mosquito B-25 Bombers. They were shot down on their 7th mission. Captain Stubbifield was killed and JB, wounded, was captured by the Germans. He was held in a German concentration camp for several months and was liberated by the Russians. After the war JB held a position with an aircraft parts company as a supply control manager, where he met and married his loving wife, Gay Bearce Richmond. A union which lasted 51 years. He was called back into service in the Korean conflict and flew Ferry Command from Hawaii to Tokyo. After returning stateside he attended Fresno State College, studying mathematics and physics, while working as a bookkeeper part-time for Challenge Creamery. After graduation he was employed several years by Aeronutronic UnderSea Warfare Research & Development. He also worked several years at the Naval Ordnance Test Side at Inyokern, CA. JBs last employment was with the Department of Motor Vehicles where he retired as Division Manager. JB retired from the Air Force, Active Service and Active Reserves as Lt. Colonel. He served 36 years. He was awarded The Purple Heart, The Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, The Distinguished Flying Cross and (of course) a Good Conduct Medal. He fought in the air offensive European campaign, Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. JB was predeceased by his wife, Gay, in 1998 and by his parents, James B. Richmond Sr. and Bertha Richmond; brothers, Ted and Troy Richmond Sr. He is survived by one niece, Mary Holbird (Holly) Branch; five nephews, Troy M. Richmond Jr., James T. Richmond and Lawrence D. Richmond, all of Bakersfield, CA, Talmadge Richmond, TX and Charles Richmond of Cayucos, CA. JB and his wife Gay were both avid readers and enjoyed genealogy research and gardening. JB had resided the past year in Bakersfield, CA. He had contracted Alzheimers Disease and wanted to be close to his family. He passed away at Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, CA. He was interred at Fair Oaks Cemetery, Fair Oaks, CA alongside his loving wife, Gay. Thank you JB God Speed. Greenlawn Southwest Mortuary Funeral Directors Legacy.com Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 1/1/2006. Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased No other information available from submitter. Obituaries http://www.legacy.com/bakersfield/LegacyHome.asp File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/r/richmond1436gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 3.6 Kb