2nd Lt.

Richard Leroy Lovegren

Navigator

544th Bomb Squadron

384th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

Serial Nr O-721586

KIA 27/09/1944 Aged 24

Missions Credited - 15

Resting Place - Cambridge American Cemetery - Plot E, Row 5, Grave 12

Leroy Richard Lovegren was born 23rd November 1919 in Helena, Montana to Dr. Leroy Eldron Lovegren and Grayce Constance Ryan Lovegren. He also had a sister named Barbara.

Lovegren and his family moved to Illinois, and he graduated from high school in 1937. He completed his first two years of junior college in Monmouth, Illinois, and he later attended the School of Mines in Butte, Colorado, where he was a member of the Sigma Rho fraternity. In February 1943, three months before he was set to graduate, Lovegren decided to enlist in the United States Army Air Forces.

After completing his training, Lovegren was assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron of the 384th Bomb Group, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #155, on 2nd August 1944, and he was assigned to the crew of 2nd Lt. Raymond John Gabel.

During his time with the 384th Bomb Group, 2nd Lt. Lovegren served as navigator on 15 missions over France, Germany, and Belgium. 

On 27th September 1944, on the 384th Bomb Group’s 200th mission, and the Eighth Air Force’s 650th mission, their target for the day was the railroad marshalling yards in Cologne, Germany. 2nd Lt. Lovegren and his crew were aboard the B-17G Fightin’ Hebe flying in the number 3 position of the high group’s fourth element. Once they were over the target, they encountered heavy flak that damaged their aircraft with holes to the radio room, tail, fuselage, and left wing. The flak was so intense that 2nd Lt. Lovegren was severely wounded and killed in action at the age of twenty-four. He was the only crew member of the 384th Bomb Group who was killed in action that day. 

For his service, 2nd Lt. Lovegren was awarded the Air Medal with oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, and Army Good Conduct Medal. 

He lies in rest at Cambridge American Cemetery, England in Plot E, Row 5, Grave 12. 

Research courtesy of Mikayla Leech on behalf of 384th Bombardment Group Museum.

With kind thanks to the 384th Bomb Group website (384thbombgroup.com) for permission in using material from their records in the making of this story. It holds a wealth of information, documents and photographs of their activities during World War 2.

Further information courtesy of www.findagrave.com and www.newspapers.com