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Dean, Ralph Merrick, Jr

Individual Personnel Data
Name Dean, Ralph Merrick, Jr
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-811027
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #80 dated 29 April 1944, effective 29 April 1944.
Duty Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 7 July 1944
Results Completed Tour, Returned to USA
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 11 May 1923
  • Placed on seven Days Temporary Duty to American Red Cross Club, Southport, Lancashire (a Flak House) on 23 June 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #120 dated 23 June 1944.




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Dean, Ralph Merrick, JrPilotCT
2nd Lt. Swan, John LoyalCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Turner, Ralph Franklin, JrNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Kell, Howard WilburBombardierCT
S/SGT. Wasserman, Joseph JacobRadio Operator / GunnerTR
SGT. Wagner, Robert WiliamEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Davis, Lionel GordonBall Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Wiley, Roger CarrollTail GunnerCT
S/SGT. Oehlkers, Walter (NMI)Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Sylvester, Carlton JohnFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 30 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
101 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group. Ground spare; replaced 42‑102442.
Sortie Report
102 8 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Co-pilot 42‑97282 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
104 9 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Thionville, France
Pilot 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
105 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
106 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Pilot 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report
107 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland
Pilot 42‑97449 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
108 15 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Pilot 42‑97178 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
109 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
110 20 May 1944 Target: Orly Airport
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Deputy. Returned bombs to base because bomb bay doors would not open.
Sortie Report
111 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Pilot 42‑102518 Group B.
Sortie Report
115 25 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report
116 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
118 28 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Pilot 42‑3441 Combat Mission Credit
Flying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation. Ground Spare Aircraft. Replaced 42‑107064.
Sortie Report
119 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland
Pilot 42‑102442 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
120 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
123 2 June 1944 Target: Four Medium Howitzer Batteries, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Neufchatel (5 miles SE of Hardelot), France
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
125 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
129 6 June 1944 Target: Highway Choke Point in City of Caen
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France
Pilot 44‑6080 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
130 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
132 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report
133 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
134 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
135 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France
Pilot 42‑31484 Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, High Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
136 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France
Pilot 42‑107148 Combat Mission Credit
High Group Deputy.
Sortie Report
137 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France
Pilot 42‑107148 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Deputy.
Sortie Report
138 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
139 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France
Pilot 42‑107148 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group Deputy.
Sortie Report
141 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany
Pilot 42‑102518 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead
Sortie Report
142 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Pilot 42‑97178 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report
151 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France
Pilot 42‑107148 Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy.
Sortie Report
153 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany
Pilot 42‑97941 Combat Mission Credit
High group lead, 41st B wing. Lost group in heavy clouds; tacked on to the low group of the 41st B wing and bombed with them.
Sortie Report

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