Richard Rakes
"World War II Combat Veteran"
Richard Rakes volunteered for the Air Corp when he was seventeen years old. In February of 1944 the Air Corp accepted his application and he was trained as Bombardier on the Boeing B-17. Richard was assigned to Foggia Italy in 1945 where he flew five missions.
Following the war, Richard continued aviation training at Spartan Aviation, Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he completed courses in A&P mechanics, multi-engine mechanics, flight engineering and commercial pilot. During his training at Spartan, Richard married Mary Lou Webb.
In March, 1951, he was employed by American Airlines as a professional engineer. After thirty five and one half years of service, Richard retired from American and lives in Hurst, Texas. Richard continues to share his good fortune with his wife and two children, Andrea and James. Richard's hobbies include building and flying radio control model air planes.
Richard's last flight was on this McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30.
"Last Flight"