Lt. Col. Richard H. “Dick” Kaufman began his military service as a B-17 bomber pilot with the 401st Bomb Group in World War II. He flew 31 missions from England over occupied Europe and Nazi Germany between December 1943 and July 1944 and received numerous decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross for his extraordinary actions on his mission to Emden, Germany on December 11, 1944. He was lucky to come home from this mission - he and his bombardier were the only two members of his crew to return to England in their crippled bomber, ‘Penny’s Thunderhead’, after being hit by flak over their target and attacked by fighters. Two men from this crew became Prisoners of War, and the remaining six were killed in action. Dick also flew two missions on D-Day (6 June 1944) supporting the beach landings.
Dick was grounded from flight status in 1947 due to a heart murmur but continued to serve as a meteorologist with tours in Newfoundland, Japan, and England. He served for 28 years in the Air Force, retiring at the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1970.
Dick married Ardean Zimpel on October 10, 1944 at Traux field near Madison, WI. They had two children - Laurian and Richard K. - and is survived by three grandchildren, Richard Andrew “Andy”, Kelsey, and Kiera.