Richard Clarence Bindel
In 1942, Richard Clarence Bindel registered for the draft in Nemaha county.
Sabetha Herald
12 May 1943
page 1
From Cpl. Richard Bindel
Cpl Richard C. Bindel, who has received his rating since last The Herald heard, has been moved form Amarillo Field, Texas, to the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft plant at San Diego Calif (See addresses) He writes:
It was some time ago I wrote you from the sandstorms of Texas and since then I have been transferred here on the coast. The weather is beautiful. This is the first time I’ve been in California and I like it swell. I am getting advanced training on the big B-24-D bombers, widely known as liberators. The meals are the bet I have eaten in a long time and it doesn’t seem like I’m in the army. I am with t he Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp. I received The Herald and read all t he letters from boys in service, enjoyed it very much. I am feeling at my best and wish everyone a happy Easter.
The Sabetha Herald
5 April 1944
page 1
From Sgt. Richard Bindel
S. Sgt. Richard C. Bindel, a gunner aboard a bomber stationed in England and remembered in the Fidelity neighborhood as a crack rifle shot, writes his parents, RM. and Mrs. A. J. Bindel as follows:
I received two letters from you today and was I ever glad to hear form home, It’s typical March weather here today and I’m wondering if it is that way at home.
I wish I had Melvin Breeden’s address. Maybe we could get together. I don’t believe he is far from here. If you can get it send it to me.
My mail must not be coming through like it should. I’ve been writing every two or three days, and I have not been getting much mail myself. Only a little form the English girls once in awhile. Some of the boys are getting mail only six days old.
The crew is on the pressing job again. We wash one day and press the next, so we can have clean clothes all the time. We are all here in the tent with another crew and all of them are playing cards but me.
I went into town today and tried to buy a radio but there just isn’t any to be had. They are trying to find one for us, so maybe we’ll have one soon.
It has been perfect here for a little while now, but it is that way one time and the next day just the opposite.
We are still together and sitting around here writing letters so someone knows we are all right yest.
Tell everyone hello for me and to keep the home fires burning as I’ll be back some day.
The Sabetha Herald
26 April 1944
page 1
Men in the Service
S. Sgt. Richard Bindel
Is MIssing in Action
With the vastly increased aerial warfare being waged over German occupied Europe from England it is inevitable that among the many from the area who re fighting aboard the American bombers, some must be among the missing. But each time one is reported it comes with the same shock to the community. S. Sgt. Richard C. Bindel, son of MR. and Mrs. A. J. Bindel of the Fidelity neighborhood, has been reported missing in action April 5 over France. the Bindels received the telegram from the War Department announcing the fact Saturday afternoon. There were no further details.
Sgt. Bindel was an aerial engineer and top turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber. Three weeks ago, in The Herald of April 5, the date Bindel was missing and the same issue that announced Sgt. Virgil Brown of Sabetha, also a B-24 engineer, was missing, this newspaper published a letter form Sgt. Bindel to his parents. He mentioned that he thought Melvin Breeden was located near him and asked for his address. He spoke of the weather, the slowness of his mail, that he was trying, though without success, to buy a radio. He concluded “Tell everyone hello for me and to keep the home fires burning as I’ll be back some day.”
If what Lt. Robert Fulton, bomber navigator an son of Louis Fulton of Sabetha says is accurate, there appears hope that Sgt. Bindel and Sgt. Brown and many others may come back, despite the reports of their being missing. Lt. Fulton wrote that there must be a high percentage of bomber crews saved, because when he has seen bombers go down, he always sees ten parachutes open soon after.
The Sabetha Herald
26 April 1944
page 7
Fidelity
The entire community was saddened Saturday when Mr. and Mrs. a. J. Bindel received a message from the War Department that their son, S Sgt. Richard Bindel, is missing in action since April 5, having been shot down over France. S. Sgt. Bindel had written a letter dated April 5 to his cousin, Mrs. Clarence Wehner, requesting one of the cigars as a souvenir of her wedding. Fr. Moriarity offered the 11:00 Mass Sunday morning for S. Sgt. Bindel and all the other boys in the service form this parish.
The Sabetha Herald
9 Aug 1944
page 1
Men In the Service
S-Sgt. Dick Bindel Killed in Action
Mr. and Mrs. Ollie Bindel received a telegram Saturday morning form the War Department saying that their son, S-Sgt. Richard Bindel, who was previously reported missing in action, was killed in action April 5 over France.
Dick was top gunner and First Engineer on a B-24 Liberator bomber. He had a number of missions to his credit, and in a letter to his parents just before he was lost on the bombing mission, he told them that the heavy bombers were dealing the Germans crushing blows and that the Allies would win the war before Christmas.
The report was received form the German government through the International Red Cross Since April 5 Bindel had been reported mission in action. He was the last of his crew to be reported dead. Some of the crew reached England safely, but the majority of the crew had been accounted for as killed in action some time ago.
The delay in the report on Bindel was not accounted for, although the telegram said that a letter would follow. The letter has not been received yet.
The telegram follows:
Report now received from the German government through the International Red Cross states your son, S-Sgt. Richard C Bindel who was previously reported missing in action was killed in action on April 5 over France. the Secretary of War extends his deep sympathy Letter Follows. Ulio. The Adjutant General
Memorial services for Richard Bindel were held at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning at the St. Augustine church at Fidelity with Father Moriarty in charge. Mr and Mrs. Ollie Bindel and Family, J. P. Bindel, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Bindel and Family, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kasten of Atchison, Mrs. McConnaughey of Atchison, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Christman and a hose of friends and neighbors attended the services.
Richard Clarence Bindel was born February 24, 1922. He attended St. Augustin grade school at Fidelity and high school a t Powhattan and Fairview for two years. He entered the Army Air Force in November of 1942. While training in the air forces he moved over a large part of the United States. He received training in Florida, Texas, California, Utah, New Mexico, and Nebraska. He went overseas from New York in December of 1943. He was home on a furlough in November of 1943.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ollie Bindel, two sisters, Lillian and Christina, and six brothers, Aloysius, Francis, Herbert, Virgil, Gerald, an Donald, all of the home and his paternal grandfather, John P. Bindel.
Richard Bindel’s Find a Grave record provides additional information about Richard Bindel’s military record.
NARA War Department records list this soldiers Home of Record as Nemaha County, Kansas. Killed In Action.
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Flight Engineer of B-24D #42-72870. 406th Bomb Squadron, 801st Bomb Group, Heavy. Missing Air Crew Report 3568.Inscription
Find A Grave Memorial Number 3296000
SSGT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Returned from Marigny-St. Lo, France and re-interred on August 30, 1949.
