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Personal info

Full name
GUIDA, Ralph J
Date of birth
20 November 1917
Age
26
Place of birth
New Jersey
Hometown
Union County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
O-690312
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
763rd Bombardment Squadron,
460th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
10 August 1944
Place of death
Popesti, Prahova, Rumania

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 36 42

Immediate family

Members
Phagmael Guida (father)
Theresa B. Guida (mother)
Rose Guida (sister)
John Guida (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-50909
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Ploesti, Rumania
MACR: 15243

More information

I was flying number 4 position in the second box of the first attack unit. Lt Guida was flying number 3 in the same box. Aburst of flak went off directly under his ship before he had a chance to get bombs away. He fell out of formation to the left and I told my waist gunners to watch him. They said he went straight down for a while and then burst into flames. They saw no chutes. Later as we rallied to the right my co-pilot saw seven chutes, whether they came from Guida's plane or not we do not know.
Statement from Francis E. Galarnea, 1st Lt., AC, O529773.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com,www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com 1940 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-F Goodfellow Field Texas / Pilot Class Book 43-H Stamford Flying School Arledge Texas / Pilot 43-H Enid Oklahoma, www.findagrave.com - Brixton Wy