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Ross, Ralph Kessler

Individual Personnel Data
Name Ross, Ralph Kessler   
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 36328085   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #80 dated 29 April 1944, effective 29 April 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner / Togglier
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 5 September 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 9 May 1917
  • Transferred in grade to the Casual Pool, 8th AFRD, AAF Station 594 on 5 September 1944 per Squadron Morning Report.




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Johnson, Clifford LeePilotKIA
2nd Lt. Melzar, Raymond Augustus, JrCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Jacobson, George JohnNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Walton, Daniel AltonBombardierCT
S/SGT. Sherriff, Albert KeithRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Ronquist, Reuben JacobEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Walker, Charles JuniorBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Wilson, Clarence EugeneTail GunnerCT
SGT. Broussard, Joseph EllisFlexible GunnerCT
SGT. Ross, Ralph KesslerFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 26 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
105 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97188 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
106 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97404 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
108 15 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97188 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
109 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97188 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back over field at 0930 hrs; sparkplug on #7 cylinder, #3 engine blew out.
Sortie Report
120 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany
Togglier 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
121 31 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Colmar, France
Togglier 42‑102617 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
123 2 June 1944 Target: Four Medium Howitzer Batteries, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Neufchatel (5 miles SE of Hardelot), France
Togglier 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
125 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France
Togglier 42‑97282 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
126 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France
Togglier 42‑97282 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
128 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France
Togglier 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
I Squadron.
Sortie Report
130 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France
Togglier 42‑37785 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; superchargers ran away and became uncontrollable.
Sortie Report
131 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France
Togglier 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
41C Wing, High Group, Low Squadron Lead. Loading list states 'No Ball Turret.'
Sortie Report
133 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France
Togglier 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
134 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France
Togglier 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Kings Cliffe, AAF Station 367, on return, due to bad weather.
Sortie Report
135 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France
Togglier 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, Low Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
137 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France
Togglier 42‑3441 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Group. Turned back over England with a mechanical failure.
Sortie Report
138 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Togglier 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
139 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Bombardier 42‑37982 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
141 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany
Togglier 43‑37703 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report
145 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany
Togglier 42‑97320 Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report
151 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France
Togglier 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
153 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Togglier 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st B wing. Lost group in heavy clouds; tacked on to the low group of the 41st B wing and bombed with them. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97072.
Sortie Report
154 8 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Renescure, France
Togglier 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, low group.
Sortie Report
155 11 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Togglier 42‑102959 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
157 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Togglier 42‑102459 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group. Turned back with #4 engine throwing excessive oil.
Sortie Report
158 16 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Togglier 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report
162 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Togglier 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
164 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France
Togglier 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report
165 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France
Togglier 42‑97320 Combat Mission Credit
High Group.
Sortie Report
167 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Togglier 42‑97072 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
168 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany
Togglier 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report

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