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Contact Info
Home Town Grant Park, Illinois
Last Address Piper City, Illinois
Date of Passing Apr 19, 1993
Location of Interment Brendon Cemetery - Piper City, Illinois
Richard Lear Alexander was born in Grant Park, Illinois on July 22, 1914. Not much has been discovered concerning his early education, but in October, 1940, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force.
He took pilot training and was certified as a pilot, given his wings, and commissioned as Lieutenant by September 1941. He went to England and joined the newly-formed RAF 133 Squadron, known as "The Eagle Squadron" because of the number of Americans in it. He flew a Supermarine Spitfire from RAF base Kingscliffe on bomber escort, fighter sweep, and home defense missions, receiving credit for one aerial victory and one "probable."
On September 23, 1942, Alexander transferred to the U.S. Army Air Forces and was assigned to the 4th Fighter Group. In January 1943, he was posted briefly to the 109th Observation Squadron, a reconnaissance unit.
April 1943 saw him assigned to the 2nd Fighter Squadron of the 52nd Fighter Group, flying P-39s. He led a flight of P-39s from England to North Africa, encountering trouble on the way. Weather and bad engines forced the unit down in Spain where they were interned for two months. Leaving Spain, the unit finally reported to Algeria in North Africa. Because of the many Americans still within the unit that had transferred, it was humorously nicknamed "The American Beagle Squadron." Alexander had somewhere picked up the personal nickname of "Dixie." This unit of the 52nd Fighter Group flew Spitfires and P-39s on strike and escort missions over North Africa, changing to P-51 aircraft in early 1944. With this, and extending strikes into Germany, Alexander was credited with an additional four victories. In November 1943, the 52nd Fighter Group moved to Piagiolino, Italy.
In May, 1944, he was shot down on a long range mission, and captured by the Germans, He was held as a POW in the Stalag Luft III, the infamous German POW camp featured in the film "The Great Escape." He was liberated at war's end in May of 1945.
He remained with the USAAF in Germany on Occupation duty with the 60th Fighter Squadron of the 33rd Fighter Wing. In 1947, he lost his right arm in an accident (type unspecified) in 1947 and was medically retired in 1948.
Other Comments:
When flying for the RAF, Alexander utilized two Spitfires, both named "Chappie." Tail number BL722 coded MD-B and tail number BL723 coded MD-M.
When he transitioned into P-51s, he was assigned P-51B #43-24816, named "Chappie" and "Dixie MK X. This was the aircraft in which he was shot down. Missing Air Crew Report 5636 applies.
In addition to the U.S. awards and decorations, Captain Richard L. Alexander was entitled to wear ribbons denoting the award of Canadian Service Volunteer Service Medal, 1939-1945 Star (British), the Mentioned in Despatches Medal (British) and another which has not been identified to date.
AFSC/MOS AAF MOS 1055-Pilot, Single-Engine Fighter
Base, Station or City
Tunisia, Sicily, Corsica, Italy
State/Country
Not Specified
Patch
52nd Fighter Group Details
Assigned 8th AAF: 13 Jul. 1942-14 Sep. 1942
Wing/Command Assignment
VIII FC, 6 FW: 18 August 1942
Combat Aircraft:
Spitfire V
Stations
EGLINTON 13 Jul. 42 - 25 Aug. 42 (5FS remained until 13 Sep. 42).
GOXHILL 26 Aug. 42 - 21 Oct. 42 (Main air echelons 2 & 4FS in 13 Sep. 42).
(2FS at Biggin Hill 25 Aug. - 13 Sep. 42; 4FS at Kenley 25 Aug.-13 Sep. 42). (Maydown also used from 7 Aug. 42-Sep. 42 as satellite for Eglington)
Group COs
Lt Col Dixon M. Allison: 27 Feb 1942 - 1 March 1943
Total sorties: 83
MIA: 0
Early History:
Activated 15 January 1941 at Selfridge Field, Mich. Trained with P-40 and P-39 aircraft. Completely equipped with P-39s early 1942 and moved to Florence AB, SC, 18 Feb. 1942 and Wilmington NC, 27 Apr. 1942. Scheduled to move to United Kingdom flying its aircraft via northern ferry route and moved to Grenier Fd, NH, mid-Jun. 1942 to prepare, but project cancelled. Second and Fourth Fighter Squadrons flew sorties up to squadron strength between 27 Aug. 1942 and 11 Sep. 1942 in conjunction with RAF Fighter Command. 5FS did not take part in operations from UK Subsequent History:
Assigned 12AF, Xll FC 14 Sep. 1942. Spitfires shipped to Gibraltar. Personnel sailed in convoy 26 Oct. 1942. Fought with 12AF in North Africa and Italy. Converted to P-51s in Apr. 1944 and flew escort for 15AF. Inactivated Nov. 1945. Activated again, in Germany, in 1946.
Transferred to the US in 1947 and established as all weather fighter group with P-61 and later F-2s. Active in air defence role for twenty years, chiefly at Suffolk County. AFB. NY.
Assigned 8th AAF: 13 Jul. 1942-14 Sep. 1942
Wing/Command Assignment
VIII FC, 6 FW: 18 August 1942
Combat Aircraft:
Spitfire V
Stations
EGLINTON 13 Jul. 42 - 25 Aug. 42 (5FS remained until 13 Sep. 42).
GOXHILL 26 Aug. 42 - 21 Oct. 42 (Main air echelons 2 & 4FS in 13 Sep. 42).
(2FS at Biggin Hill 25 Aug. - 13 Sep. 42; 4FS at Kenley 25 Aug.-13 Sep. 42). (Maydown also used from 7 Aug. 42-Sep. 42 as satellite for Eglington)
Group COs
Lt Col Dixon M. Allison: 27 Feb 1942 - 1 March 1943
Total sorties: 83
MIA: 0
Early History:
Activated 15 January 1941 at Selfridge Field, Mich. Trained with P-40 and P-39 aircraft. Completely equipped with P-39s early 1942 and moved to Florence AB, SC, 18 Feb. 1942 and Wilmington NC, 27 Apr. 1942. Scheduled to move to United Kingdom flying its aircraft via northern ferry route and moved to Grenier Fd, NH, mid-Jun. 1942 to prepare, but project cancelled. Second and Fourth Fighter Squadrons flew sorties up to squadron strength between 27 Aug. 1942 and 11 Sep. 1942 in conjunction with RAF Fighter Command. 5FS did not take part in operations from UK
Subsequent History:
Assigned 12AF, Xll FC 14 Sep. 1942. Spitfires shipped to Gibraltar. Personnel sailed in convoy 26 Oct. 1942. Fought with 12AF in North Africa and Italy. Converted to P-51s in Apr. 1944 and flew escort for 15AF. Inactivated Nov. 1945. Activated again, in Germany, in 1946. Transferred to the US in 1947 and established as all weather fighter group with P-61 and later F-82s. Active in air defence role for twenty years, chiefly at Suffolk County. AFB. NY.
Air Forced Assigned To :
8th AF (July '42)
12th AF (Sept 14th '42)
15th AF (May '44 - end WWII)
Stations Flown From :
Northern Ireland, Jul 13 1942
Goxhill, England, Aug 26 - Oct 1942
Tafaraoui, Algeria, Nov 9 1942
La Senia, Algeria, Nov 14 1942
Orleansville, Algeria, Jan 1943
Telergma, Algeria, Jan 17 1943
Youks-les-Bains, Algeria, Mar 9 1943
Le Sers, Tunisia, Apr 14 1943
La Sebala, Tunisia, May 21 1943
Boccadifalco, Sicily, Jul 30 1943
Corsica, Dec 1 1943
Madna Airfield, Italy, May 14 1944
Piagiolino Airfield, Italy, Apr 21 1945
Lesina, Italy, Jul 8 -Aug 1945
Campaigns Flown in :
Air Combat, EAME Theatre
Air Offensive, Europe
Algeria-French Morocco
Tunisia
Sicily
Naples-Foggia
Rome-Arno
Normandy
Northern France
Southern France
North Appines
Rhineland
Central Europe
Po Valley
Awards Won :
Distinguished Unit Citations: Germany, Jun 9 1944;
Distinguished Unit Citation: Rumania, Aug 31 1944
Victory Claims (in Air) :
Destroyed: 425.33
Probable: 35
Damaged: 137
Aces were :
(scores in the group only- some scored victories while flying in other groups or squadrons)
HQ: Ø
2nd FS:
4th FS:
5th FS:
J.S. Varnell (17)
S. Feld (9)
C.D. Allen (7)
R.C. Curtis (14)
J.O. Tyler (8)
D.R. Franklin (7)
J.B. Lawler (11)
W.F. Hanes (6)
R.A. Karr (6)
A.G. Johnson (8.5)
V.N. Cabas (4) [total 5]
J.W. Empey (5)
N.L. McDonald (7.5) [total 11.5]
D.J. Zoerb (7)
J.E. Hoffman (6.5)
F.F. Ohr (6)
R.C. Lampe (5.5)
A.E. Vinson (5.333)
R.L. Alexander (4) [total 5]
R.J. Watson (2) [total 5]
J.E. Peck (1) [total 5]
Freddie Ohr, flying for the 2nd Squadron of the 52nd Fighter Group,
P-51C-10-NT "Dody"
Unit: 2nd FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: QP-S (43-25133)
Pilot - Capt.Hans Zachmann. Madna, Italy, 1944.
P-51B-?-NA "Abdul's Baby"
Unit: 4th FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: WD-A
Pilot - Lt. Frederick 'Ted' Bullock. Madna, Italy, Summer 1944.
P-51B-5-NA "Meg X/Pet's Pet"
Unit: 4th FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: WD-L (43-6583)
Pilot - Capt.James O.'Tim' Tyler. Madna, Italy, June 1944.
P-51B-10-NA "Hey Rube! II"
Unit: 2nd FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: QP-U (42-106715)
Pilot - Lt. Daniel Zoerb. Madna, Italy, June 1944.
P-51B-15-NA "Chappie/Dixie Mk X"
Unit: 2nd FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: QP-A (43-24816)
Pilot - Lt.Richard L.'Dixie' Alexander. Madna, Italy, June 1944.
P-51B-15-NA "Little Joe"
Unit: 5th FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: VF-B (43-24818)
Pilot - Lt.Joe Blackburn. Madna, Italy, June 1944.
P-51B-15-NA "Little Ambassador"
Unit: 5th FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: VF-U (43-24853)
Pilot - Lt.James W.Empey. Madna, Italy, June 1944.
P-51D-5-NA "Doc Watson..."
Unit: 5th FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: VF-V (44-13160)
Pilot - Maj.Ralph 'Doc' Watson. Madna, Italy, December 1944
P-51D-5-NA "Jo Baby..."
Unit: 4th FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: WD-D (44-13263)
Pilot - Lt.Robert McCampbell. Madna, Italy, August 1944.
P-51D-5-NA "Julie"
Unit: 2nd FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: QP-C (44-13264)
Pilot - Maj.Robert C.Curtis. Madna, Italy, August 1944.
P-51D-5-NA "Marie"
Unit: 2nd FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: QP-Q (44-13298)
Pilot - Capt.Fred F.Ohr. Autumn 1944.
P-51D-5-NA "Cathy II"
Unit: 2nd FS, 52nd FG, 15th AF, USAAF
Serial: QP-V (44-13428)
Pilot - Capt. John Barry Lawler. Madna, Italy, July 1944.
