ROYALL, IV, RICHARD ROYSTER (PHOTO) - Harris County, Texas | RICHARD ROYSTER (PHOTO) ROYALL, IV - Texas Gravestone Photos

Richard Royster (photo) ROYALL, IV

Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery
Harris County,
Texas

CAPTAIN US Air Force
2nd Bomb Squad 22nd Bomb Group
World War II
May 7, 1914 - May 14, 1942

AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS
★World War II Victory Medal
★Air Medal
★Purple Heart
★American Campaign Medal
★Army Presidential Unit Citation
★Army Good Conduct Medal
★Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

Killed in Action Battle of Coral Sea
Memorialized as one of 6,279 missing,
in the U.S. Cemetery in Manila P. I
He gave his life for his country

Captain Richard Royster Royall, IV was born in Houston, Harris County, Texas, on May 7, 1914 to Richard Royster Royall and Abbie Davis. Mr. Royall died on May 14, 1942 at the age of 28 in Manila, Capital District, National Capital Region, Philippines (Eastern Theatre).

Some Gave All.

Richard started his journey by graduating from the Rice Institute in Houston, Texas, in 1937, where he was also a star varsity football player. He then went to the Ryan School of Aeronautics in San Diego, California, along with 35 other fledgling fliers. He was one of the first Army Air Corp. flying cadets to begin flight instruction under the Army's new training program, whereby primary flight training was being given at nine commercial flying schools instead of at Randolph Field, where it was always done before. After completion, he was then advanced to Randolph Field, then to Kelly Field, then each was sent to various reserve locations in the U.S. and Hawaii. Richard was sent to Michel Field in Long Island, New York, then shortly after, due to the war, the fresh faced graduates were sent immediately into battle.

Mr. Royall was a Captain & Pilot on B-26 #40-1402, 2nd Bomber Squadron, 22nd Bomber Group, Medium, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He was killed/missing in action in the Battle of the Coral Sea on the 10th of May 1942. His B-26 #40-1402 took off with a crew of 7, alone from Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea on a bombing mission over a Japanese base near Deboyne Island, Miline Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. They never returned and it is presumed they were shot down by ground anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the sea near Deboyne Island.

He was declared officially dead by the Military on December 4, 1945. He is memorialized at Tablets of the Missing Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location. Richard is 1 of 3,672 declared missing in action, classified as Lost At Sea.

His memorial is located next to his mom Abbie in Houston, Texas. His memorial has him listed as Richard Royster Royall IV, but military records list him as Richard Royster Royall Jr.; His mother Abbie's memorial in inscribed as "Mother of Richard Royster Royall IV". Mr. Royall married Blanch Mae Allbritton in 1940, and from this union he had one child, Richard Royster Royall V (some records list him as Richard Royall III) who is located near him at Forest Park Cemetery - Lawndale.

(See Veteran memorial stone)

*Photo courtesy of Deana K. Hickman

Contributed on 7/14/21 by MryAl8
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Record #: 436766

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Submitted: 7/14/21 • Approved: 7/14/21 • Last Updated: 7/17/21 • R436766-G0-S3

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