Moss, Ralph Eldon

Individual Personnel Data
Name Moss, Ralph Eldon   ‡
⇗
Rank Corporal / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 37706047   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF station Special Orders #196 dated 4 October 1944, effective 22 September 1944.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 20 January 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 14 August 1925
  • Promoted to Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #201 dated 11 October 1944.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #209 dated 22 October 1944.
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. McKone, Joseph Francis⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Sharp, Alan E⇗Co-pilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Snyder, Roy E⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Long, Noal Edward⇗BombardierCT
CPL. Irwin, Frank Xavier⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Hall, Callie Newton⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Moss, Ralph EldonBall Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Humphries, Richard Alexander⇗Tail GunnerCT
PFC. Albro, Bernard Thomas⇗Flexible GunnerCT

Crew History

The McKone Crew was assigned to the 384th BG in two lots on the same Special Orders #265 from HQ 70th Replacement Depot dated 21 September 1944. Most of the enlisted men (except the radioman, Irwin) likely were detailed to attend additional training prior to reporting to the Group.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 35 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
210⇗ 14 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
211⇗ 15 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
212⇗ 17 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
213⇗ 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑37703⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back during formation assembly; landed at Waterbeach; reported an engine on fire.
Sortie Report⇗
214⇗ 19 October 1944 Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron flying spare. Joined the lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
215⇗ 25 October 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6512⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Fourth Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
217⇗ 1 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
218⇗ 2 November 1944 Target: Ruhr-Chemie A.G. Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Sterkrade (Holten), Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
219⇗ 4 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
220⇗ 5 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
221⇗ 6 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
223⇗ 9 November 1944 Target: Ground Installations
Type: Military
Location: Ouvrages de Sorbey (Metz), France 		Ball Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
224⇗ 10 November 1944 Target: Ostheim Airfield & Butzweilerhof Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
225⇗ 11 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
226⇗ 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Stratford, due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
228⇗ 23 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
229⇗ 25 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑98000⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Low Squadron
Sortie Report⇗
230⇗ 26 November 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenbeken, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
231⇗ 27 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Offenburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flew entire mission but could not drop bombs: bomb bay doors would not open either electrically or manually. Bomb load returned to base.
Sortie Report⇗
233⇗ 30 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
234⇗ 2 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38750⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
235⇗ 4 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Soest, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
236⇗ 6 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102661⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron hot camera ship. This aircraft suffered an internal failure of the #1 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
238⇗ 11 December 1944 Target: Road & Rail Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
239⇗ 12 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron hot camera ship
Sortie Report⇗
240⇗ 18 December 1944 Target: Road Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Gemünd, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
241⇗ 19 December 1944 Target: Railway Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Glaadt, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38927⇗ Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off
Did not take off due to weather which deteriorated after lead aircraft took off.
Sortie Report⇗
242⇗ 23 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Ehrang, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Ridgewell due to weather. Ferried to Grafton Underwood and flew mission the next day.
Sortie Report⇗
244⇗ 27 December 1944 Target: Bridge (Tactical)
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenahr, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
245⇗ 28 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brühl, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
247⇗ 31 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Neuss, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
248⇗ 1 January 1945 Target: Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Derben, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
249⇗ 2 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gerolstein, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
250⇗ 3 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point & Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: St Vith, Belgium 		Ball Turret 43‑38927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
251⇗ 5 January 1945 Target: Landing Ground
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Neiderbreisig, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
252⇗ 7 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point
Type: Military
Location: Blankenheim, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38850⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
253⇗ 8 January 1945 Target: Railroad
Type: Transportation
Location: Kyllburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
254⇗ 10 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bonn, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38850⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron flying spare. Joined formation (low Squadron).
Sortie Report⇗
255⇗ 15 January 1945 Target: Neuburg Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Neuburg an der Donau, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗

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