Richard was an Eagle Scout and a track & field and basketball athlete in Mansfield High School. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1942. At his graduation from Advanced Flight Training, he was selected as Outstanding Athlete of his class, and given his wings by Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker. He piloted a B-24 Liberator bomber in WW II, and brought his crew of 10 back safely from 35 missions with the 466th Bomb Group in 1944. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Following the war, he graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in civil engineering. He was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and the Phalanx Honor Society. Dick was the Executive VP of Sales and Marketing at Revere Copper and Brass, and later at Reading Industries before opening Reading Sales, West in CA.
Dick also authored two books, The Life and Ancestry of John Thistlethwaite Baynes, and Replacement Crew about the training and combat experience his B-24 crew in WW II.
An active volunteer and leader, Dick served as President and director of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society (8AFHS), President of the 466th Bomb Group Association, President of the Silver Falcons, Secretary and Director of Gen. Curtis LeMay Chapter of the 8th AFHS, Chairman of the 60th International Anniversary of the B-24, Chairman of the 2nd Air Division Regional Reunions for 14 years, member of the Order of Daedalians, and recipient of the RPI Albert Fox Demers medal.
Richard is predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Margaret Hoefner Baynes, and his wife of 3 years, Mary Reinhardt. He is survived by his older brother John Henry, and by his 3 children, Beverly B. Tomb (Doug) in Falls Church, VA, Caroline B. Harkins (Dan) in Newport Beach, CA, and Robert Baynes (Laurie) in Alamo, CA, and by 3 grandchildren.
A memorial service is planned at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18