World War II - Lt. Richard I. Collier, Jr. - Coke County, TX

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Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net
23 Sep 2000
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The Observer/Enterprise, 10 Dec 1999, Robert Lee, TX

Lt. Richard I. Collier, Jr. was born in Bronte and graduated from
Bronte High School.  He then attended Hardin Simmons University 
where he graduated as valedictorian.  He taught band at Anson, Cisco,
and Corpus Christi.

Additionally, Collier served as a civil service instructor at Lincoln
Nebraska Army Airbase before entering service July 1, 1943.

Lt. Collier received his commission and navigator wings at Ellington
Field, Houston, on May 20, 1944.  He was sent overseas in August 1944
and assigned to the 15th Air Force in Italy where he served as a
navigator on a B-24 bomber.

While on a bombing mission to Steyr, Austria, his plane dropped from
formation while flying through clouds.  A plane, presumed to be his, 
was seen crashing in the Adriatic Sea near the island of Cherso.  He
was reported as missing in action on October 16, 1944 and subsequently
declared to have been killed in action.

Lt. Collier was survived by his wife, Charlotte Collins Collier and a
son, Richard R. Collier.

Permission granted by Enterpriser/Observer for publication in the
Coke County TXGenWeb Archives