Richard “Salvo” Saucier

February 6, 1924 – July 23, 1921

From the 95th BG Memorials Foundation Facebook page:

With heavy hearts, the Memorials Foundation and the Heritage Association report that Richard “Salvo” Saucier of North Mankato, MN, left formation on 23 July 2021 at the age of 97. Salvo was the TTE on Pappy Dulle’s 412th crew. We are grateful to Dan and Clorinda Dodds, who visited Salvo regularly with their family, for sharing the sad news. Richard passed away peacefully at Gracewood Senior Living in Lino Lakes, MN. Folded wings.

Salvo’s obituary, which was released on 7 August 2021, reads as follows:

“Richard lived independently except for the last nine days of his life.

“Richard was born on February 6, 1924, in Mendon, Massachusetts, to Alfred and Elizabeth Saucier. Richard grew up in and around East Hampton, Connecticut, and attended East Hampton High School. In 1942 at the age of 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps. As part of his training in the Army Air Corps, he attended the University of Montana. During WWII, Richard was a flight engineer and top turret gunner on a B-17 bomber. Flying out of Horham, England, Richard flew seventeen combat missions into Germany. In addition, and what he was most proud of, was the numerous low-level food drops he and his crew flew as part of Operation Chowhound to deliver food to the starving people of the Netherlands.

“Richard had a very successful career as a chief executive, sales manager, salesman and entrepreneur in the construction industry.

“Richard is survived by his brother Edward, his sister June, six children, twenty grandchildren, thirty-five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Richard was preceded in death by his mother and father; three of his siblings, Claire, Jack, Alfred; and his oldest son Richard.

“A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, August 14, 2021, at 2:00 PM at the home of John and Lynette Irelan. If you wish to attend, please get in touch with Neil Saucier at 507-514-1071 for directions. Burial will take place at Fort Snelling Cemetery on Tuesday, September 21 at 9:00 AM. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.”

Salvo was justly proud of the three CHOWHOUND missions he flew, all of which were aboard the 412th’s “Goin’ My Way” (338288 V). About 8288, he recalled painting the walls of its tires white “so that we’d have the only B-17 in Europe with white sidewall tires.”