Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameLt.“Jimmy” Richard Alvis MAY [84], [2631]
BirthJun 19, 1920, Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina [84], [2632]
DeathJun 21, 1943 [84], [2632]
BurialPine Hill Cemetery (Burlington City), Main St, Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina [2632]
FlagsUS Air Force, World War II
FatherEmanuel MAY Sr. (1882-1942)
MotherEthel Smith GARVIN (1893-1939)
Spouses
BirthJan 23, 1920, Alamance County, North Carolina [2629]
DeathApr 3, 2001 [2625], [2629]
BurialPine Hill Cemetery (Burlington City), Main St, Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina [2629]
FatherThomas Henderson KIVETT (1894-1942)
MotherLorah Lodaska ISLEY (1893-1970)
Marriage1942 [2630]
Obituary Online notes for Lt.“Jimmy” Richard Alvis MAY
https://www.alamance-nc.com/library/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2018/10/AlamanceCoWWIIdeathrevAug2018.pdf

Alamance County World War II Deaths
There were approximately 220 local deaths in World War II. This information was compiled from microfilm for the Local History Collection at May Memorial Library with the help of Miriam Pace, library volunteer and member of the Alamance County Friends of the Library, who spent many hours researching and copying.

May, Richard Alvis “Jimmy”
Lieutenant son of the late Emanuel May and Mrs. May and husband of Mrs. Edna Kivett May was listed as missing in action on a flight from Newfoundland to Scotland on June 20, 1943 and later declared dead.

He was a member of the 563rd Bomber Squadron, 388th Heavy Bomber Group and was a bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress.

Lt. May had been a member of the Army Air Force for the past 18 months. He was promoted to First Lieutenant recently.

Lt. May was a graduate of Burlington High School and was a senior at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill when he entered the service as an Air Force Cadet.

In addition to his widow, he is survived by a brother Emanuel May, Jr. Lt. May received the Purple Heart posthumously.

A memorial is among the Tablets of the Missing at East Coast Memorial in New York City.

Source: Times-News July 17, 1943 and October 13, 1944 [2631]

May attended Burlington High School and the Darlington Preparatory School in Georgia before entering the University in 1938. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in January 1942 and received his commission as a second lieutenant and his bombardier's wings on Dec. 12, 1942. May was listed as missing after a mission in the North American area on June 20, 1943. He was declared dead 21 Jun 1943 along with the other 9 servicemen in the event. Monument marker inscribed June 21 1943 and top of memorial is 21 Jun 1943.

Richard's name is also on the
East Coast Memorial in Manhattan

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121272360/richard-a-may
[2632]
Last Modified Mar 17, 2024Created Sep 25, 2026 by Terry M. Whitesell, using Reunion for Macintosh
Created Sep 25, 2026 by Terry M. Whitesell
Created using a Macintosh computer and Reunion software.

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