Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

Evaders


Evader chart: E0290
SGLO Date crash Aircraft
T3392 10-02-44 B-17 Flying Fortress
MilRank First Name(s) Name
2/Lt. Howard Ernest Richardson
Milregnr. Nationality Born
O-752505 American Streeter, North Dakota, USA, 10 Jun 1918
Returned Y/N Evader Fate Date Captured/Liberated Place Captured/Liberated Escape Line
No EVD-POW 8 Aug 44 Antwerp, Belgium -
Evader Story
						2/Lt Howard Ernest Richardson was the navigator of of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-31218. In the target zone over Bremen the bomber was hit by flak, lost power in an engine and eventually had to leave the formation. As a straggler it was attacked by fighters that killed the radio operator, Sgt. J.A. Harnish. The attacks caused fire in the left wing and the other nine crewmembers bailed out. The B-17 crashed at Baarlo and ruined a farm. Richardson landed southeast of Vollenhove in a kind of stubblefield 'stoppleveld'. He left his parachute at the landing spot and moved to another field where a crop was growing until waist height. He was seen though by some Dutchmen who brought him clothes, food, coffee and civilian clothes. They also warned the resistance, probably notary J.J.J. van Kluyve (1904-1969). In the evening hours Richardson was picked up and brought to the farm of Family Kingma at Voorport A 23-3 in Vollenhove. To his surprise he found here 2/Lt. Charles A. Hadfield (E0288), the co-pilot, in bed. The next day the two Americans got other civilian clothes (again) and were taken in a 1936 Chevrolet to the province of Friesland. The were brought to the house of Family Jilles Zijlstra at Merelstraat 7 in Drachten (according to other sources with Mr. and Mrs. Johannes Philippus Peper, Torenstraat 10, Oostermeer/Eastermar, Drachten). They would stay here for half a year. On 3 or 4 August 1944 the two left Drachten. By train they travelled to Kaatsheuvel where they found a hiding place in the house of Simon de Cock. On 6 Aug 1944 thety moved to another safe-house in Kaatsheuvel. From here they crossed with the help of Piet Felix of Groep André the border into Belgium with the help of Dutch policemen near Meer. Richardson and Hadfield eventually ended up in Antwerp. Here they were arrested together with two English airmen on 8 August 1944 while they thought they were helped by a young female resistance worker of the 'White Brigade'. Richardson ended up in a PoW camp but survived the war. He passed away on 3 June 1990 at the age of 71.

						
Source(s)
* https://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/423.html
* Jan J. van der Veer, 'Howard Richardson: we staan weer quitte' in: Leeuwarder Courant, 8 August 1970
* NIOD, 896, Willemsen, W.J.M, inv.nr. 2, 'H.E. Richardson'
* Oorlogsmuseum Overloon, Boekje Piet Felix, Groep André