In the 1943-45 log book of Don McBride, Jim listed his home address as: R.A. "Jim" Moore EAGLE SQD Duncan, Oklahoma From a CNAC list dated between 1960 and 1962: Moore, Richard A. p Commadore Hotel Beirut, Lebanon From a CNAC list dated 2/18/64 Richard Moore c/o Jim Shaddy Amer Trans-Packing Co Bangkok, Thailand From a CNAC list dated 2/1/65 Richard "Jim" Moore c/o G.O.P. Box 2433 Bangkok, Thailand From a CNAC list dated February 5, 1979 Richard Moore GPO Box 2433 Bankok, Thailand  Richard (Injin Jim) Moore Tollygung Royal Golf Club November 1944 (Photo Courtesy of Jim Dalby)  Anna, Mei Ling, Pattidan, Richard, Jim Click here for a larger version. January 17, 2006 After CNAC, Jim was with some Levanese partners and built a hotel in Beirut. It was called the "Commodore Hotel" and sported a fancy night club called "The Casba(?)" I remember when they dug the first hole to start the building in early 1955. Jim later had a falling out with his partners; sold out and returned to Bankok. There he spent the rest of his life. Pete Goutiere September 2, 2007 I found in the Eagle Squadron records of the RAF a listing for Richard A. Moore in the 71st Eagle Squadron made up of American pilots. There was a notation next to his name "POW." He was the only Richard Moore listed in any of the Eagle Squadrons. Bob Willett August 30,2011 The following comes from a long time friend of Jim Moore's, Jesse Henry, who lives in Bangkok, Thailand: Ok, Tom. Here goes. I am surprised that you are short of information on Richard A. Moore inasmuch as he had a reputation. Yes, he was from Texas. Football scholarship - Okla A & M I think - which is where he learned to fly - like ROTC but Aarmy Air Corps - I think not designated National Guard butr some other nomenclature in those days before WWII. He and his buddy rode the rails to attend part of the Olympics in Los Angeles. His buddy had a hand cut off by sliding door of box car somewhere in the desert - had to be put off but Jim (known in later life as Jim Moore)(but in those early days known as Bob Moore) Jim went on to LA and saw some of the games. He was an oil field roust-about and knew several of the personalities that became influential figures in the oil business 20-30 years later. His best friend's sister married Bob Wills of the Texas Playboys, later the Austin City Limits. A great music/singing early Country group - check them out if you don't know them. Tried to join the RAF during early days of WWII by going tro Canada. His first attempt - he was in a group that was stopped by U S officials and sent back to ZI (Zone of Interior - that is, away from Canadian border). However he persistged and did cross,and joined, and became a plot inm the 2nd EAgle Squadron, and later was in the 3rd EAgle Squadron. Mostly flew Hurricanes. An example of rason for hisw fame, and his competance. One airfield in England was closed, and some cabales were strung at a height to prevent the strip; from being used. An inspection certified that nothing coule land or take off. On a bet he took his plane and safely landed it. Flying (piloting) a Hurricane was like managing a chunk of concrete in the air - not the favorite plane of pilots. When the USA entered the war, all pilots were ordered by U S officials to return to USA immediately. An official Army Air Corps unit was set up in England and a few transferred to it. The others were sent back to USA as civiians. Jim was told that he did not pass the physical for US AAC - someting about his teeth not in alignment. And he was ordered to report to his draft board for immediate induction as army private for infantry. At this point he used all his connections and intrigue and managed to get on with CNAC. He ws hired as a co-pilot, so on his passport application he put: CO-Pilot. Not the accepted form for pilots. He was probably the onlyh one who had a passport with job designation as Co-Pilot. Later when made fun of by others, he eventually said his passport was destroyed, and got a new one as Pilot. He flew over the Hump, Later for some of the bamboo airlines after the war. Smuggled gold. Had the Commodore Hotel - a top floor of a bldg in Beirut, Lebanon. His music group had an American black who played a mean alto-sax (by mean I intend really good - at times you felt yourself coming up on vinegar strokes) - this guy was one of the very very first U S blacks to convert to Islam - can't recal his name now. Flew for Israel - ostensibly cargo but actually intelligence. ed down in Saudi - charge with spying for Israel. AFter a few days in jail, interrogated by Saudi colonel who had studied in England - Jim to prove his point pulled out his wonker and showed he was not circumcised, and cursed the Jews. The colonel bought his story and let him go. But he stopped flying for Israel then. He married Anna, a CHinese stewardess (don't know now what air line). Her father was eventually recognized by Red CHina for technical work he had done in his youth. Three children. He named the girls, and she the boy. Oldest - Patti Dan. masater degree in New Zealand. Hd smartgs. Married a Thai engineer who worked either for NASA or a contractor ofr the space folks - was once on magazine cover as engineer of the month. At that time in USA she worked as court stenographer - excellent pay as she could do Chinese and Thai as well as English. Next was Mei Ling. never maried. Had accident with bicycle, needed steel pin in bone; eventually died of cancer hre in Bangkok. I didn't get to go to her cremation, but I had seen her a week before in the Emergency Room of Camillian Hospital Shespotted me and called out - so after we both were waiting for meds, we sat and chatted for along time - I knew she was ailing, but did not realize it was so serious. A couple days later I was walking away from the hosp and met her brother and a lady friend of Sugar (Mei Ling's nickname) - they said she was on deathbed. Sure enough. I think the son is Richard jr. Last I knew he was in SOCal - maybe San Diego area. Think he had a kid by then.. He did tell me what line he was in, but I forget now. But likely you can contact him on facebook-linkedIn-twitter and get more info than I have. Have heard nothing about Ann - possibly still alive - but I never knew her last residence. I heard that Patti Dan and her husband were living in USA - maybe in Idaho-MOntana area, but not sure. They had two daoughters both with advanced degress and good jos. But marriage of younger one fell apart, and I heard Patty Dan and hubby were looking after youngest daughters 2 kids. And don't know her married name (husband's Thai name). As far as I know Jim was the last living pilot who flew for both EAgle Squadron AND CNAC. When Ambassadora William Itoh was here, Jim was awarded his medals, and from that he was able to get a monthly stipend - quite nice one too -wish I had one - I somewhere have pictures of that ceremony at the ambassador's residence. At this point I must interject that I have dealt with some ambassadors, and of course observed many more: Ambassador Wm. Itoh was best by far For some oyears Jim had what was probably an ulcer on his foot. Eventually in USA (S.F.?) he had leg removed at knee. Artificial leg - got along very well. He was living alone in Hua HIn - a seaside resort area ab out 3 hours drive from Bangkok - he fell down the stairs, hit his head. May have been 2-3 days before anyone investigated. Spent rest of life in ICU in Bangkok. Can't remember - maybe 2-3 months. I visited there but to no avail. I attended cremation. After the war WWII - Jim and the one-eyed chinaman and Capt Somwang Sarasas starated to open a bank in Hanoi - but the China Lobby and the francophiles came down on them like ten tons of bricks. No bank. He and Bill Miller (still alive here at 93) built a housing development in Bkk suburb with USA AID funds. US demanded that the doors be changed to oopen inwards becaue if opened outwards they could not push the snow away. Dumb jerks - WAshington beaurucrats should have known it has never snowed in Bangkok tropics! (Although in March 1961 at Elephant Head bridge, Phyathai, i observed hail - which soon melted - small hail stones - maybe 3-4 mm.) Jim brought in used paving eqipment from Indonesia, without documentation, and did paving of access roads for U S Military in Thailand during V-N war. But when that work ended he could not legally dispose of or export - so it was just left on the side of the road; strange it was there for some years as it rusted away. Then he went to Laos and with Simon Lee built Lee Village for AIR AMERICA, CIA, other US and other aliens. He managed it. When Pathet Lao (the commies) suddenly came in overnight and took over Jim barely got out by the skin of this teeth. Later he tried some mining ventures in Thailand - but all failed, and he lost a lot - maybe most - of his savings. A big man physically - could be aggressive. If you access the SOcial Security obituary site, you can get his exact birth/death data. Again, I think that if you use the social networking sites, you should be able to locate his son in SoCal, and work onward from there. Not sure if any of this satisfies your requirements. Jim and Jim Shady, a Captain in the AAC over the hump and in China, used to spend nights talking wings. But that was not my area of competence. About me - my fingers don't want to accomodate themselves to this keyhboard - so you will find lots of typos - sorry aboutthat. Too lazy to go back and correct them all. About a year and a half ago my wife died after a decade of enduring Alzheimer's I am still trying to rehabilitate myself from that rut, but not easy. Anyway, I have written a mini-manul for caretakers of patients at home. You can find it for Kindle readers at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054JIO7S not expensive; or yhou can get a paper copy with color illustrations and a pic of the author (me) at an exhorbitant price (includes shipping, tho) at www.booksandlooks.com The outreach committee ladies of the Anglican church provide me with taxi fare each month; and the Synagogue's Kosher Kitchen delivers weeklyh supplyuof food every Sunday afternoon. Now if only I could sell enough books to be able to stand on my own. In the back of my mnd there have been articles about Jim Moore published by and for Eagle Squadron and CNAC publications over the years. Again, if you access various links and inquire, you may well come up with a lot more. Cheers! Jesse  or would like to be added to the CNAC e-mail distribution list, please let the CNAC Web Editor, Tom Moore, know. Thanks! |
