Richard Francis Harrison Papers

Collection overview Biographical/historical information Scope and arrangement Administrative information Key terms Container list

Portions of this collection are digitized (9 items)

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1943-1945

Manuscript Collection #552

Portions of this collection are digitized (9 items)

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Creator(s): Harrison, Richard Francis, 1917-1945
Physical description: 0.5 Cubic Feet, 8 photographs and 1 document
Preferred Citation: Richard Francis Harrison Papers (#552), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository: ECU Manuscript Collection
Access: No restrictions

Photographs taken in the Philippine Islands and a biographical sketch of USMC Major Harrison, USNA class of 1941.

Biographical/historical information

Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Richard Francis Harrison was born on 26 August 1917. He joined the United States Navy in 1935, serving aboard SS Concord. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy, class of 1941, he chose to join the United States Marine Corps. He served a brief tour in Iceland between 1941 and 1942, before returning to the States. Harrison then went through pilot training, earned his wings, and served in Zamboanga, Philippines, with the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115. His plane was shot down on 26 May 1945 during fighting with Japanese forces, and he was declared missing in action for over a year before his remains were recovered. He is now buried in a family plot in Oxford, New York. Major Harrison received several awards for his time in the service, including the American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Victory Medal, and the Purple Heart. Harrison was survived by his wife Louise Perkinson and their daughter Lola.

Scope and arrangement

The collection is comprised of eight photographs taken during Major Richard Francis Harrison's time in the service with the United States Marines, and a brief biographical sketch of Major Harrison written by his widow. The majority of the photographs show scenes from Zamboanga, Philippines. There is also one photo from Harrison's time in Iceland and a posed studio photograph of Harrison.

Administrative information

Custodial History

March 2, 1988, 9 items; Photographs taken in the Philippine Islands and a biographical sketch of USMC Major Harrison, USNA Class of 1941. Donor: Mrs. C. C. Ijams.