John Francisco Richards II

John Francisco Richards II (born 3 July 31, 1896, Kansas City, Missouri; died September 26, 1918, near Varennes, France) was a first lieutenant in the 1st Aero Squadron, who was shot down during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in World War I.

John Francisco Richards II
Born
John Francisco Richards II

(1896-07-31)July 31, 1896
Kansas City, Missouri
United States
DiedSeptember 26, 1918(1918-09-26) (aged 22)
near Varennes-en-Argonne
France
NationalityAmerican
EducationYale University
OccupationFirst lieutenant in the 1st Aero Squadron
EmployerUnited States Air Force
Known forNamesake of Richards Field and Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base
Parent(s)George Blackwell Richards
Belle (Hastings) Richards
RelativesJohn Francisco Richards (grandfather)

Richards Field, the first airport in the Kansas City metropolitan area was named for him. Its follow up Kansas City Downtown Airport was originally called New Richards Field. The road serving it is called Richards Road. Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base was also named for him.

His grandfather, John Francisco Richards, founded the Richards & Conover Hardware Company in Kansas City.[1]

He graduated with BA from Yale University in 1917, where he was the circulation manager of campus humor magazine The Yale Record.[2] His letters were published after the war.[3]

References
  1. http://www.kchistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/Local&CISOPTR=14383&CISOBOX=1&REC=9
  2. "John Francisco Richards, II". Obituary Record of Yale Graduates 1918-1919. New Haven: Yale University. August, 1919. p. 1101.
  3. War diary and letters of John Francisco Richards II, 1917-1918 - Lechtman printing Co (1925)
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