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Candelaria, Richard Gomez

    Date of birth:
    July 14th, 1922 (El Paso, Texas)
    Service number:
    O-766418
    Nationality:
    American

    Biography

    00.02.1939: Theodore Roosevelt High School in Fresno
    22.01.1943: Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces
    00.01.1944: promoted to second lieutenant
    00.09.1944: 435th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group, 8th fighter command, based at Watersham Royal Air Force Base, Ipswich, England
    05.12.1944: Lieutenant, P-51K-5NT (44-11755) named "My Pride and Joy", 435th Fighter Squadron, shot down 2 Focke-Wulf Fw 190, North West of Berlin
    07.04.1945: Captain, P-51K-5NT (44-11755) named "My Pride and Joy", 435th Fighter Squadron, shot down the lead Bf 109 and shot down 3 more Bf 109
    13.04.1945: Captain, P-51K-5NT (44-11755) named "My Pride and Joy", 435th Fighter Squadron, shot down by Flak when attacking in a second pass enemy aircraft at an airfield in Rostock, slightly wounded, bailed out near the Elbe River
    16.04.1945: captured
    23.04.1945: escaped to Belgium after several weeks of captivity
    00.05.1945: arrived in Belgium after the capitulation
    Pilot credited with destroying 6 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 probable (Me-262 jet fighter)
    01.05.1946: left active duty and served in the Air Force Reserve
    27.04.1950-00.12.1952: Major, F-51 Mustang pilot, 195th Fighter Squadron, California Air National Guard (CA ANG)
    00.01.1953-00.06.1953: 115th Fighter Squadron, CA ANG
    00.07.1953-00.01.1955: Lieutenant-colonel, Assistant Air Operations Officer, 146th Fighter-Bomber Wing, Van Nuys
    00.02.1955-00.06.1957: commander, 8195th Replacement Training Squadron, Van Nuys Air National Guard Base
    00.07.1957-00.04.1958: Colonel, F-86 Sabre pilot, Assistant Air Operations Officer, 195th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Van Nuys
    00.04.1958-00.07.1960: colonel, Flying Safety Officer, 146th Fighter Interceptor Wing at Van Nuys
    00.07.1960-20.10.1960: colonel, Plans and Programs Officer, 146th Air Transport Wing at Van Nuys
    20.10.1960: transferred to the Air Force Reserve
    15.06.1964: retired as a colonel

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded on:
    January 1944
    Pilot Wing
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Captain
    Unit:
    435th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group, U.S. Army Air Forces
    Awarded on:
    1945
    For gallantry in action while escorting heavy bombers over Germany, 7 April 1945. When adverse weather caused Captain Candelaria to become separated from his Squadron, he continued on alone to rendezvous with the bombers. Observing two (2) ME-262 jets attacking the formation, he intercepted and dispersed them, probably destroying one (1) of the fighters. Still alone, and completely ignoring the odds and personal danger, Captain Candelaria attacked approximately fifteen (15) hostile fighters. Selecting the lead plane for his initial target, he shot it down in flames and then gallantly engaged the remaining aircraft until assistance arrived. Captain Candelaria's courage, tenacity of purpose, and determination to destroy the enemy at any cost are borne out by the fact that during this action he shot down four (4) ME-109's, thus preventing serious damage being inflicted on the bombers.
    Silver Star Medal (SSM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
    Air Medal (AM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    with four bronze campaign stars
    European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    with bronze hourglass device
    Armed Forces Reserve Medal
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    with four bronze oak leaf clusters
    Air Force Longevity Service Award

    Sources

    Photo