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name
PINER, Ralph Edward - Date of
birth
18 December 1922 -
Age
20 -
Place of birth
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California -
Hometown
Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
19128791 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
334th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
10 October 1943 - Place of
death
Lingen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 22 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Edward Piner (father)
Alice M. Piner (mother)
Thomas F. Piner (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-30273 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Patsy Ann III
Destination: Munster, Germany
MACR: 942
More information
Statement from 1st Lt David E. Olsson, Air Corps, Asst. Operations Officer.: 'I hereby certify that, upon checking intelligence reports, no witness can be produced to cast light on the missing crew and aircraft. As on this mission, a great deal of enemy opposition was encountered in the form of flak and fighters. It is conceivable that the men were too busy to observe circumstances pertaining to other aircraft. The ship was last known to have been in formation near the target.'
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Jac Engels