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name
DE DOMENICO, Ralph Joseph - Date of
birth
22 February 1916 -
Age
28 - Place of
birth
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York -
Hometown
Queens, Queens County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32356318 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 September 1944 - Place of
death
Werneuchen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 19 | 8 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Rosairio De Domenico (father)
Virgina De Domenico ( mother)
Santa De Domenico (sister)
Elizabeth De Domenico (sister)
Joseph De Domenico (brother)
Aurhur De Domenico (brother)
William De Domenico (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37850 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Umbriago
Destination: Ruhland, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 8894
More information
Ralph De Domenico enlisted at Fort Jay, New York on 18 June 1942.The mission was to bomb the oil refinery of Ruhland, but a target of opportunity, the marshalling yard of Plauen, was bombed instead.
The airplane was attacked by German fighters. Flames streamed from the cockpit to the radio room. It rolled over on its back and then went into a spin and exploded in the air.
It was the crew's 5th mission.
Four crew members survived and were taken prisoner, five men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten