Hurd, Richard F.

by Wes Cate
(Marshfield, VT)

Dick Hurd was a neighbor of mine. After his tour overseas, he became CO of a B24 training squadron at Westover AAF in Massachusetts. He was on leave, home in Vermont, when his visit to a meeting of CAP cadets was interrupted by news that one of his bombers was missing and presumed down in the vicinity of nearby Camel's Hump mountain.
The AAF immediately mounted a SAR effort, but Dick was certain they were searching the wrong area, and they declined his assistance, so he organized the cadets and led them up the other side of the mountain, finding the wreck with the tail gunner still alive.
After the war, Dick became the Deputy Commissioner of Aeronautics for the state of Vermont, serving in that capacity until he retired in the 1980s. He gave me my first airplane ride in 1963, which led to a career in aviation. When Dick's boss, the commissioner retired, a reorganization of state government was taking place, and the position was abolished, cheating Dick of a promotion, but hard worker that he was, he soldiered on without a word of complaint. Never a harsh word to or about anybody, no matter how richly deserved. He died four years ago.

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Mar 22, 2022
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Richard Hurd at Ploesti
by: Anonymous

Vicky, I believe Dick was an aircraft commander from when they left US and ferried their aircraft via S America to N Africa. He had various leadership positions in the squadron and eventually became squadron CO. He may have flown occaisonally in the copilot seat when giving training or proficiency checks. Advancement was rapid due to attrition in combat. I don't believe he ever was a designated copilot. Unfortunately, it's too late to ask him.

Mar 21, 2022
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Ploesti
by: Vickie Waters

Is it possible that your friend was the co-pilot on the Barrel House Bessie during the Ploesti raid August 1, 1943? I am doing research on my dad (Kenneth D Hamilton ) who was the navigator.

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My Trip to San Pancrazio

October 2019


Reunion

NOTE change in month !!!

DATES: Oct 26-29, 2023

CITY:Tucson, AZ

HOTEL: Double Tree Suites Airport hotel

7051 South Tucson Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85756

520-225-0800


Click here to read about the reunion details.

previous reunions


For Sale

The Other Doolittle Raid


The Broken Wings of Zlatibor


The Liberandos


Three Crawford Brothers


Liberando: Reflections of a Reluctant Warrior


376th Bomb Group Mission History


The Last Liberator


Full Circle


Shadows of Wings


Ten Men, A "Flying Boxcar," and A War


I Survived Ploesti


A Measure of Life


Shot Down In Yugoslavia


Stories of My Life


Attack


Born in Battle


Bombardier's Diary


Lost Airmen


Langdon Liberando