Dufour, Ralph Kenneth

Individual Personnel Data
Name Dufour, Ralph Kenneth   
Rank Corporal / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 12133510   
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #56 dated 13 March 1945, effective 13 March 1945.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report (Paragraph 3, Special Orders #176, 1st Air Division) - to 34th Bomb Group, effective 28 June 1945.
Duty Flexible Gunner / Ball Turret Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 28 June 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 25 May 1921
  • Promoted to Sergeant effective 17 March 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #59 dated 17 March 1945.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant effective 18 April 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #84 dated 18 April 1945.
  • Reclassified from MOS 611 to MOS 612 effective 19 April 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #85 dated 19 April 1945.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Montgomery, Robert WPilotFCMEW
2nd Lt. Tarro, John PeterCo-pilotKIS
2nd Lt. Goldsmith, Alan ENavigatorFCMEW
2nd Lt. Brockett, Wendell GreeneBombardierTR
CPL. O'Brien, Robert ERadio Operator / GunnerTBD
S/SGT. Knapp, Thomas HenryEngineer / Top Turret GunnerTBD
SGT. Baird, Robert SamuelBall Turret GunnerFCMEW
S/SGT. Glass, Lois, VernonTail GunnerCT
CPL. Dufour, Ralph KennethFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 14 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
295 23 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gladbeck, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
296 24 March 1945 Target: Vechta Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Vechta, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38801 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
298 26 March 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6892 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
299 28 March 1945 Target: Berlin/Spandau Motor Transport Works
Type: Industry
Location: Spandau (Berlin), Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97824 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
300 30 March 1945 Target: Deutsche Schiff- u. Maschinenbau A.G. (DESCHIMAG)
Submarine and Warship Yard
Machine Shop
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
301 31 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑39203 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
302 3 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Kiel, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑102620 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
307 9 April 1945 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany
Ball Turret 43‑38062 Combat Mission Credit
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back prior to target when #2 engine started smoking. Peeled off. made 180° turn and headed back for England. The aircraft was under control and apparently landed somewhere in allied territory.
Sortie Report
310 14 April 1945 Target: Gun Battery
Type: Military
Location: Royan (Bordeaux), France
Ball Turret 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
311 15 April 1945 Target: Flak guns at Pointe de Suzac
Type: Military
Location: Royan, France
Ball Turret 43‑38974 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
312 16 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Regensburg, Germany
Ball Turret 44‑6892 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
313 17 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Dresden, Germany
Ball Turret 43‑38974 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
314 19 April 1945 Target: Railroad Station & Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Elsterwerda, Germany
Ball Turret 42‑97824 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
316 25 April 1945 Target: Skoda Armament Works
Type: Industry
Location: Pilsen / Plzeň, Czechoslovakia
Ball Turret 42‑102459 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report

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