Candelaria, Richard Gomez

Date of birth:: July 14th, 1922 (El Paso, Texas)
Service number:: O-766418
Nationality:: American

Biography

00.02.1939: Theodore Roosevelt High School in Fresno
22.01.1943: Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces
00.01.1944: promoted to second lieutenant
00.09.1944: 435th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group, 8th fighter command, based at Watersham Royal Air Force Base, Ipswich, England
05.12.1944: Lieutenant, P-51K-5NT (44-11755) named "My Pride and Joy", 435th Fighter Squadron, shot down 2 Focke-Wulf Fw 190, North West of Berlin
07.04.1945: Captain, P-51K-5NT (44-11755) named "My Pride and Joy", 435th Fighter Squadron, shot down the lead Bf 109 and shot down 3 more Bf 109
13.04.1945: Captain, P-51K-5NT (44-11755) named "My Pride and Joy", 435th Fighter Squadron, shot down by Flak when attacking in a second pass enemy aircraft at an airfield in Rostock, slightly wounded, bailed out near the Elbe River
16.04.1945: captured
23.04.1945: escaped to Belgium after several weeks of captivity
00.05.1945: arrived in Belgium after the capitulation
Pilot credited with destroying 6 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 probable (Me-262 jet fighter)
01.05.1946: left active duty and served in the Air Force Reserve
27.04.1950-00.12.1952: Major, F-51 Mustang pilot, 195th Fighter Squadron, California Air National Guard (CA ANG)
00.01.1953-00.06.1953: 115th Fighter Squadron, CA ANG
00.07.1953-00.01.1955: Lieutenant-colonel, Assistant Air Operations Officer, 146th Fighter-Bomber Wing, Van Nuys
00.02.1955-00.06.1957: commander, 8195th Replacement Training Squadron, Van Nuys Air National Guard Base
00.07.1957-00.04.1958: Colonel, F-86 Sabre pilot, Assistant Air Operations Officer, 195th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Van Nuys
00.04.1958-00.07.1960: colonel, Flying Safety Officer, 146th Fighter Interceptor Wing at Van Nuys
00.07.1960-20.10.1960: colonel, Plans and Programs Officer, 146th Air Transport Wing at Van Nuys
20.10.1960: transferred to the Air Force Reserve
15.06.1964: retired as a colonel

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Pilot Wing

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: January 1944

Silver Star Medal (SSM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Captain
Unit:: 435th Fighter Squadron, 479th Fighter Group, U.S. Army Air Forces
Awarded on:: 1945

For gallantry in action while escorting heavy bombers over Germany, 7 April 1945. When adverse weather caused Captain Candelaria to become separated from his Squadron, he continued on alone to rendezvous with the bombers. Observing two (2) ME-262 jets attacking the formation, he intercepted and dispersed them, probably destroying one (1) of the fighters. Still alone, and completely ignoring the odds and personal danger, Captain Candelaria attacked approximately fifteen (15) hostile fighters. Selecting the lead plane for his initial target, he shot it down in flames and then gallantly engaged the remaining aircraft until assistance arrived. Captain Candelaria's courage, tenacity of purpose, and determination to destroy the enemy at any cost are borne out by the fact that during this action he shot down four (4) ME-109's, thus preventing serious damage being inflicted on the bombers.