2024 MEMBERSHIP
 JOIN OR RENEW NOW
 MEMBER APPLICATION FORM

Ralph, Robert Edward

Individual Personnel Data
Name Ralph, Robert Edward   
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 35443176   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #56 Dated 25 July 1943, effective 25 July 1943.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 30 January 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri
DecorationsPresented Air Medal on 17 October 1943 (microfilm B0376-01630).
Presented Oak Leaf Cluster (to Air Medal) on 23 January 1944 (microfilm B0376-01669).
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 3 August 1921
  • Ordered on seven days Temporary Duty to the American Red Cross Club, Southport (A FLAK House) on or about 9 January 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #6 dated 8 January 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 2263 (3.481 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Sweningsen, Oliver (NMI), JrPilotPOW
2nd Lt. Stewart, Carlos PenfieldCo-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Cawley, Thomas FrancisBombardierPOW
T/SGT. Barta, Joseph FrancisRadio Operator / GunnerPOW
T/SGT. Bartholomew, Everett LaverneEngineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Ralph, Robert EdwardBall Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Grover, Richard StanleyTail GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Dillingham, Desmond QuintonFlexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Weatherford, Louie FrankFlexible GunnerEV

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 22 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
15 15 August 1943 Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France
Ball Turret 42‑5852 Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report
16 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Ball Turret 42‑3459 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
21 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑3429 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away near Dungeness, Kent, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
23 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France
Ball Turret 42‑5404 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Deputy
Sortie Report
25 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France
Ball Turret 42‑5051 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
26 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑3216 Combat Mission Credit
One engine went out before the target, and a second was hit by flak. A third engine quit on the way home. The crew threw as much as possible overboard, and the pilot was able to bring it in on one engine.
Sortie Report
27 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑5051 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
29 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑3216 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
31 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑3216 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Sortie Report
33 20 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Düren, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑5444 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
-- 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑3218 Sortie Report
34 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑5444 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
35 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑37816 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
36 16 November 1943 Target: Knaben II Molybdenum Mine
Type: Industry
Location: Knaben, Norway
Ball Turret 42‑37776 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
40 5 December 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France
Ball Turret 42‑39888 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
41 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑29828 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
42 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑5404 Combat Mission Credit
Low group, high Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
43 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑5444 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
45 22 December 1943 Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Osnabrück, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑5444 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
46 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France
Ball Turret 41‑24525 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑29554.
Sortie Report
47 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
51 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑29632 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Became separated from formation in dense clouds after group assembly; failed to make wing rendezvous.
Sortie Report
54 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Ball Turret 42‑31415 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
55 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑5444 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
56 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑5444 Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Low group high Squadron. Last seen at 1146 hrs, six minutes before the IP, being attacked by FW 190s and began falling away from the formation where he burst into flames, but continued on and dropped bombs on target; three chutes seen to emerge; crashed near Oberkirchen, Germany. Casualties buried in Meinsen. MACR 2263
Sortie Report

Every effort has been expended to ensure all information on this page is complete and accurate.
Please inform webmaster of any discrepancies or omissions by using the button below.