Captain Richard L. West
U.S. Army Air Force, 5th Air Force, 8th Fighter Group, 35th Fighter Squadron
P-38 Lightning pilot & double ace

Background
Richard Lee West was born July 12, 1921 to parents John Marion West Jr. and Flo Ellen (née Lightner) West in Trenton, Missouri. Nicknamed "Dick" He graduated high school and completed one year at Chillicothe Business College in Missouri. Prewar, he worked as a stenographers and typists and worked in a civil service job with the Quartermaster Corps in Kansas City, Missouri until he enlisted.

Wartime History
On February 27, 1942 enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as a private with serial number 17064205. He underwent flight training and advanced flight training at Moore Field class 42-J earning his wings. On November 10, 1942 commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-667125. Afterwards, became an instructor in the 81st Fighter Squadron (81st FS), 50th Fighter Group (50th FG). By July 1943, West had a total time of 214 hours 40 minutes flying time when he was sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

On September 1, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 35th Fighter Squadron (35th FS) as a fighter pilot. By late 1943, promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. By late 1944, promoted to the rank of Captain. In total, he flew 173 combat missions until November 1944.

Aerial victory claims
West was officially credited with fourteen aerial victories, all flying the P-38 Lightning in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). He also claimed three probables and one damaged.

Victory	Date	Location	Aircraft	Notes on claim
1	09/22/43	Finschafen	A6M3 Zero	First aerial victory claim.
2	09/22/43	Finschafen	A6M3 Zero	Second aerial victory claim.
	09/22/43	Finschafen	A6M3 Zero	Probable victory claim.
3	11/15/43	15 miles north of Kaiapit	A6M Zero [sic Oscar]	Third aerial victory claim.
4	11/15/43	15 miles north of Kaiapit	A6M Zero [sic Oscar]	Fourth aerial victory claim.
5	11/15/43	15 miles north of Kaiapit	Ki-21 Sally	Fifth aerial victory claim, became an ace.
6	11/15/43	15 miles north of Kaiapit	Ki-21 Sally	Sixth aerial victory claim.
	11/15/43	15 miles north of Kaiapit	Ki-21 Sally	Probable victory claim.
	11/15/43	Alexishafen	A6M Zero [sic Oscar]	Probable victory claim.
7	06/16/44	Jefman	A6M Zero	Seventh aerial victory claim.
8	07/27/44	Galela Airfield	Ki-61 Tony	Eighth aerial victory claim.
	11/01/44	Alicante	Zero / Tojo	Claimed as Damaged
9	11/01/44	off the coast of Negros	Ki-44 Tojo	Ninth aerial victory claim.
10	11/01/44	Alicante	Ki-44 Tojo	Tenth aerial victory claim became a "double ace".
11	11/06/44	Fabrica Airfield	Ki-44 Tojo	Eleventh aerial victory claim.
12	11/06/44	Fabrica Airfield	Ki-43 Oscar	Twelfth aerial victory claim.
13	11/14/44	Alicante	Ki-43 Oscar	Thirteenth aerial victory claim.
14	11/15/44	La Carlota Airfield	Ki-43 Oscar	Fourteenth aerial victory claim.

Aircraft Assigned
P-38J 42-103921 [sic] assigned to West.

Awards
West earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for his actions November 15, 1943, Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with two oak leaf cluster and the Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters.

Memorials
West died May 25, 2005 at age 83. He is buried at Saint Columban Catholic Cemetery in Chillicothe, Missouri.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard L. West
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: West, Richard L. page 198 (PDF page 205)
P-38 Lightning Aces of the Pacific and CBI (1997) pages 54 (profile 35), 95 (profile 35 description)
Hall of Valor - Richard Lee West (award citations)
FindAGrave - CPT Richard Lee “Dick” West (photo, grave photo)
Three Songs and Other Poems (1994) by Richard L. West
Stars & Bars (1995) pages 629 (West, Richard L.)
P-38 Lightning Aces of the Pacific and CBI (1997) by John Stanaway page 89 (ace list)
Aces of the Eighth Fighter Group (2001) by Jack Fellows
Lightning! by Jack Fellows