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 Combat Tour
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 Lee⇗PilotKIA
2nd Lt. Melzar, Raymond Augustus, Jr⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Jacobson, George John⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Walton, Daniel Alton⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Sherriff, Albert Keith⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Ronquist, Reuben Jacob⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Walker, Charles Junior⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Wilson, Clarence Eugene⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Broussard, Joseph Ellis⇗Flexible 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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