Memorial

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2nd Lt Ralph W. Huss graduated from the Martensdale High School on 18 May 1933. He worked on his parents farm.

He enlisted on 16 October 1941.

On 8 May 1942, he was married to Winifred Brownlie.

He graduated from the United States Air Force Navigation School in Texas on 24 December 1943 and sent overseas in March 1944.

Statement from Louis F. Pacheco, F/O, Bombardier, Lieutenant Gay's Crew:
"I am bombardier on Lieutenant Gay's crew flying Able 13 in formation on bombing mission over Austria, May 10, 1944. Lieutenant Howes' crew, flying Baker 21 when hit by flak, was approximately over the IP, Donneskirchen. I saw smoke pouring out of the bomb bay, and the bomb bay doors were closed at the time. This evidently took from 3 to 5 minutes. Lieutenant Howes pulled out of the formation and headed left toward my ship, Able 13. Partway between, he gained a little altitude. Suddenly, the bomb bay burst, and I saw the doors flying out abrest our ship and Able 11. Two men came out with their clothes and parachutes in flames. I saw no one else leave the ship. I followed the ship down, and he was in a sort of flat spin, side-slipping to the right. At approximately 10,000 feet, the ship, still burning, folded up in three pieces. I lost sight of the ship and at about the same time the formation started dropping its bombs on the target, Wiener Neustadt/Nord area."