Early Life and Education
Richard Clarence Bindel was born on February 24, 1922, to Mr. and Mrs. Ollie Bindel of the Fidelity community in Nemaha County, Kansas. He was raised in a close-knit Catholic family and attended St. Augustine Grade School in Fidelity. For high school, he studied at both Powhattan and Fairview, completing two years of secondary education. Richard grew up with two sisters and six brothers, forming strong family bonds that remained important throughout his life.
Entering the Service
In 1942, Richard registered for the draft in Nemaha County as the United States intensified its involvement in World War II. That November, he formally entered the Army Air Forces, beginning a rigorous training regimen that took him across the country. His training included stops in Florida, Texas, California, Utah, New Mexico, and Nebraska, as he prepared to serve as an aerial crew member.
Training on the B-24 Liberator
While stationed at Amarillo Field in Texas, Richard earned the rank of corporal. He was later transferred to the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft plant in San Diego, California, where he received advanced technical training on the B-24D Liberator bombers—heavy aircraft widely used in the Allied bombing campaigns over Europe. In a letter to The Sabetha Herald, Richard praised the excellent food, the weather, and the aircraft he was learning to operate, commenting that it “doesn’t seem like I’m in the army.”
Deployment to England
In December 1943, Richard departed from New York for England. Now a Staff Sergeant, he served as a flight engineer and top turret gunner aboard a B-24 Liberator with the 406th Bomb Squadron, 801st Bomb Group, Heavy. Known in his local community as a crack rifle shot, he brought a natural aptitude for precision and coordination to his work on the bomber crew.
While stationed in England, Richard frequently wrote to his parents. In one letter published in April 1944, he described the typical March weather, shared his frustrations about delayed mail, and joked that the only letters arriving regularly came from English girls. He spoke of daily life with his crew, the effort to keep their clothes clean, and his hope to find a radio. He ended the letter with a poignant line: “Tell everyone hello for me and to keep the home fires burning as I’ll be back some day.”
Final Mission and Missing in Action
On April 5, 1944, Sgt. Richard Bindel flew a mission over German-occupied France. Tragically, his B-24 bomber was shot down during the raid. His parents received a telegram days later, notifying them that he was listed as missing in action. The local community was devastated by the news. In the same issue of The Sabetha Herald that printed his hopeful letter, the paper also reported his disappearance.
Despite the grim news, there remained hope. Lt. Robert Fulton of Sabetha, also serving in the air forces, suggested in a letter home that a high percentage of crew members survived crashes thanks to parachutes—giving Richard’s family and friends reason to believe he might yet return.
Confirmation of Death
Months passed without word. Then, on August 5, 1944, a telegram from the War Department brought confirmation. A report from the German government, relayed through the International Red Cross, stated that Sgt. Richard Clarence Bindel had been killed in action on April 5 over France. He was the last of his crew to be confirmed deceased—some members survived and returned to England, while most had already been accounted for.
Memorial services were held on August 8 at St. Augustine Church in Fidelity, Kansas, where the community gathered to grieve and honor their fallen son.
Burial and Legacy
Richard’s remains were initially buried in France, near the site of the crash. Years later, they were returned to his home soil and reinterred on August 30, 1949, at St. Augustine Cemetery in Fidelity. His gravestone bears the inscription:
SSGT, US ARMY AIR FORCES, WORLD WAR II
Richard’s service is also documented in the U.S. War Department records, which list his home of record as Nemaha County, Kansas. His aircraft—B-24D #42-72870—was part of Missing Air Crew Report 3568, reflecting the somber circumstances of his loss.
Remembering a Hero
Richard Bindel was just 22 years old when he gave his life in service to his country. He left behind parents, eight siblings, and a grieving community, but also a legacy of courage, skill, and devotion. His letters home reflected not only the day-to-day reality of military life, but also a deep connection to his family and his Kansas roots. He believed in the mission, trusted in eventual victory, and carried himself with humility and hope.
His sacrifice, like that of so many others, contributed to the liberation of Europe and the eventual Allied victory. Richard Clarence Bindel remains a symbol of the honor and bravery of the Greatest Generation.
SOURCES
In 1942, Richard Clarence Bindel registered for the draft in Nemaha county.
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Sabetha Herald
12 May 1943
page 1
From Cpl. Richard Bindel
Cpl Richard C. Bindel, who has received his rating since last The Herald heard, has been moved form Amarillo Field, Texas, to the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft plant at San Diego Calif (See addresses) He writes:
It was some time ago I wrote you from the sandstorms of Texas and since then I have been transferred here on the coast. The weather is beautiful. This is the first time I’ve been in California and I like it swell. I am getting advanced training on the big B-24-D bombers, widely known as liberators. The meals are the bet I have eaten in a long time and it doesn’t seem like I’m in the army. I am with t he Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp. I received The Herald and read all t he letters from boys in service, enjoyed it very much. I am feeling at my best and wish everyone a happy Easter.
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The Sabetha Herald
5 April 1944
page 1
From Sgt. Richard Bindel
S. Sgt. Richard C. Bindel, a gunner aboard a bomber stationed in England and remembered in the Fidelity neighborhood as a crack rifle shot, writes his parents, RM. and Mrs. A. J. Bindel as follows:
I received two letters from you today and was I ever glad to hear form home, It’s typical March weather here today and I’m wondering if it is that way at home.
I wish I had Melvin Breeden’s address. Maybe we could get together. I don’t believe he is far from here. If you can get it send it to me.
My mail must not be coming through like it should. I’ve been writing every two or three days, and I have not been getting much mail myself. Only a little form the English girls once in awhile. Some of the boys are getting mail only six days old.
The crew is on the pressing job again. We wash one day and press the next, so we can have clean clothes all the time. We are all here in the tent with another crew and all of them are playing cards but me.
I went into town today and tried to buy a radio but there just isn’t any to be had. They are trying to find one for us, so maybe we’ll have one soon.
It has been perfect here for a little while now, but it is that way one time and the next day just the opposite.
We are still together and sitting around here writing letters so someone knows we are all right yest.
Tell everyone hello for me and to keep the home fires burning as I’ll be back some day.
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The Sabetha Herald
26 April 1944
page 1
Men in the Service
S. Sgt. Richard Bindel
Is MIssing in Action
With the vastly increased aerial warfare being waged over German occupied Europe from England it is inevitable that among the many from the area who re fighting aboard the American bombers, some must be among the missing. But each time one is reported it comes with the same shock to the community. S. Sgt. Richard C. Bindel, son of MR. and Mrs. A. J. Bindel of the Fidelity neighborhood, has been reported missing in action April 5 over France. the Bindels received the telegram from the War Department announcing the fact Saturday afternoon. There were no further details.
Sgt. Bindel was an aerial engineer and top turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber. Three weeks ago, in The Herald of April 5, the date Bindel was missing and the same issue that announced Sgt. Virgil Brown of Sabetha, also a B-24 engineer, was missing, this newspaper published a letter form Sgt. Bindel to his parents. He mentioned that he thought Melvin Breeden was located near him and asked for his address. He spoke of the weather, the slowness of his mail, that he was trying, though without success, to buy a radio. He concluded “Tell everyone hello for me and to keep the home fires burning as I’ll be back some day.”
If what Lt. Robert Fulton, bomber navigator an son of Louis Fulton of Sabetha says is accurate, there appears hope that Sgt. Bindel and Sgt. Brown and many others may come back, despite the reports of their being missing. Lt. Fulton wrote that there must be a high percentage of bomber crews saved, because when he has seen bombers go down, he always sees ten parachutes open soon after.
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The Sabetha Herald
26 April 1944
page 7
Fidelity
The entire community was saddened Saturday when Mr. and Mrs. a. J. Bindel received a message from the War Department that their son, S Sgt. Richard Bindel, is missing in action since April 5, having been shot down over France. S. Sgt. Bindel had written a letter dated April 5 to his cousin, Mrs. Clarence Wehner, requesting one of the cigars as a souvenir of her wedding. Fr. Moriarity offered the 11:00 Mass Sunday morning for S. Sgt. Bindel and all the other boys in the service form this parish.
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The Sabetha Herald
9 Aug 1944
page 1
Men In the Service
S-Sgt. Dick Bindel Killed in Action
Mr. and Mrs. Ollie Bindel received a telegram Saturday morning form the War Department saying that their son, S-Sgt. Richard Bindel, who was previously reported missing in action, was killed in action April 5 over France.
Dick was top gunner and First Engineer on a B-24 Liberator bomber. He had a number of missions to his credit, and in a letter to his parents just before he was lost on the bombing mission, he told them that the heavy bombers were dealing the Germans crushing blows and that the Allies would win the war before Christmas.
The report was received form the German government through the International Red Cross Since April 5 Bindel had been reported mission in action. He was the last of his crew to be reported dead. Some of the crew reached England safely, but the majority of the crew had been accounted for as killed in action some time ago.
The delay in the report on Bindel was not accounted for, although the telegram said that a letter would follow. The letter has not been received yet.
The telegram follows:
Report now received from the German government through the International Red Cross states your son, S-Sgt. Richard C Bindel who was previously reported missing in action was killed in action on April 5 over France. the Secretary of War extends his deep sympathy Letter Follows. Ulio. The Adjutant General
Memorial services for Richard Bindel were held at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning at the St. Augustine church at Fidelity with Father Moriarty in charge. Mr and Mrs. Ollie Bindel and Family, J. P. Bindel, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Bindel and Family, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kasten of Atchison, Mrs. McConnaughey of Atchison, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Christman and a hose of friends and neighbors attended the services.
Richard Clarence Bindel was born February 24, 1922. He attended St. Augustin grade school at Fidelity and high school a t Powhattan and Fairview for two years. He entered the Army Air Force in November of 1942. While training in the air forces he moved over a large part of the United States. He received training in Florida, Texas, California, Utah, New Mexico, and Nebraska. He went overseas from New York in December of 1943. He was home on a furlough in November of 1943.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ollie Bindel, two sisters, Lillian and Christina, and six brothers, Aloysius, Francis, Herbert, Virgil, Gerald, an Donald, all of the home and his paternal grandfather, John P. Bindel.
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Richard Bindel’s Find a Grave record provides additional information about Richard Bindel’s military record.
NARA War Department records list this soldiers Home of Record as Nemaha County, Kansas. Killed In Action.
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Flight Engineer of B-24D #42-72870. 406th Bomb Squadron, 801st Bomb Group, Heavy. Missing Air Crew Report 3568.
Inscription
SSGT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Returned from Marigny-St. Lo, France and re-interred on August 30, 1949.
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The Sabetha Herald
16 May 2007
Page 10
FEATURE
Honoring those who gave their life in service to our country ~ First in a series
Staff Sergeant Richard Bindel is fourth World War II casualty from Fidelity in nine months
By Patty Locher
News Editor
The Sabetha Herald
Staff Sergeant Richard Bindel, 22, an aerial engineer and top turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber, was killed in action on April 5, 1944, over France.
The son and oldest of nine children of Aloysius J. “Ollie” and Ruth Bindel, he was the fourth serviceman from St. Augustine Parish at Fidelity to be declared missing in action (MIA) or killed in action (KIA) in approximately nine months.
Staff Sergeant LeRoy Edward Blocker of the parish was declared MIA on June 29, 1943, and in September 1943 was reported to be a prisoner of war.
Technical Sergeant Harold Key of Fairview, also of the parish, was declared MIA on Oct. 24, 1943.
Staff Sergeant Lawrence Wintercheud of the parish was declared KIA on Jan. 16, 1944.
The four men were among the 20 names on the parish honor roll of servicemen.
S/Sgt. Bindel’s MIA status was first reported in The Sabetha Herald in the Wednesday, April 26, 1944, issue. His parents received the telegram from the War Department Saturday afternoon, April 22, with no further details.
“With the vastly increased aerial warfare being waged over German-occupied Europe from England,” The Herald reported, “it is inevitable that among the many from this area who are fighting aboard the American bombers, some must be among the missing. But each time one is reported, it comes with the same shock to the community.”
Three weeks earlier, in the April 5 issue, the very day S/Sgt. Bindel went missing, The Herald published the following:
“S/Sgt. Richard C. Bindel, a gunner aboard a bomber stationed in England and remembered in the Fidelity neighborhood as a crack rifle shot, writes his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Bindel, as follows:
‘I received two letters from you today and was I ever glad to hear from home. It’s typical March weather here today and I’m wondering if it’s that way at home too.
I wish I had Melvin Breeden’s address. Maybe we could get together. I only know he is stationed in England. If you can get it, send it to me.
The food is still good here for the most part. Every day it’s bacon and eggs and toast and jam in the morning, then we go to work throwing heavy crap for three days, and back some day.’”
The Bindel family received a telegram from Adjutant General Ulio of the War Department on Saturday, Aug. 5, 1944, stating their son was previously reported missing in action and was killed in action April 5 over France.
Dick had a number of reasons to be proud: The Herald reported on Aug. 9, 1944, and in a letter to his parents, he noted he was lost on the bomb run because he told them that the heavy bombers were dealing death to Germans, rushing blows until the Allies would win the war before Christmas.
A large crowd went to the Bindel residence that evening when the remains were returned from the International Cemetery in France, arriving in Sabetha the weekend of Aug. 5, 1944.
The article continued:
“He told them that the war was coming to a close, and that he hoped it wouldn’t be long before he and the others would be able to return home.”
Staff Sergeant Richard Bindel, aerial engineer and top turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber, was killed in action over France on April 5, 1944.
Richard Clarence Bindel was born Feb. 24, 1922. The family moved south of Sabetha, where Richard spent most of his life helping with farming.
He attended St. Augustine grade school at Fidelity and high school at Powhattan and Fairview for two years.
He entered the Army Air Forces in November 1942. While training in the air forces he traveled extensively in the United States.
Sgt. Bindel graduated from the aerial gunnery school at Harlingen, Texas, after training there in Amarillo, Texas, in Indiana and in California. He also went through training in Utah, New Mexico and Nebraska.
Sgt. Bindel went overseas from New York in December 1943 after being home on furlough in November.
On Aug. 30, 1949, Sgt. Bindel’s remains were buried in Section E, Grave 143-144 of the nearby local National Cemetery at Countryside, Kansas.
Surviving Sgt. Bindel besides his parents were two sisters, Lillian and Francis; five brothers, Aloysius, Norbert, Elmer, Thomas, and Joseph; and his paternal grandfather J. P. Bindel.
His mother died in May 2007 at age 101. Lillian, Francis, Elmer, Thomas and Joseph are all living. His father, Aloysius J. Bindel, and brothers Norbert and Aloysius Jr. are deceased.
He was survived by many nieces and nephews and extended family.