Lieutenant Hans Richard Heyne Jr.

Hans Richard Heyne was born in Independence MO on July 22, 1923 to Mr and Mrs HR Heyne. His father had emigrated in 1907 and worked as an engineer for various mining operations, ending up in Mogollon NM. Richard graduated from Reserve HS in 1940 and enrolled at Colorado State University studying Forestry until entering NMAMC the fall of 1941, He attended for two years studying engineering. He then left and entered the USAAF in early 1943. In February 1944 he was commissioned and received his pilot’s wings. In May of 1944 he was shipped overseas as part of the 463rd Reconnaissance Squadron, 309th SrG, flying P-51 B7 aircraft equipped with cameras for close air reconnaissance. He completed his first 50 mission tour and immediately volunteered for a second tour where he was assigned to fly P-47 Thunderbolts as part of the 378th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group. During his flying career he is recorded as having survived two crashes. However, on October 29, 1944 his unit was assigned to fly close ground support and strafing runs on German railroads near Landau Germany. His plane, P-47 # 42-26934, appeared to have been hit by ground fire when it burst into flames and was last seen entering a cloud bank. He was never heard from again. Following the war his body was recovered and today he lies buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery at St Avold, France. Lt Hans Richard Heyne was 21 years of age at the time of his death.