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Personal info

Full name
CORNING, Ralph Bernard
Date of birth
16 November 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
Wisconsin
Hometown
Portage, Columbia County, Wisconsin

Military service

Service number
36237097
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
708th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
30 November 1944
Place of death
Zeitz, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Robert B. Corning (father)
Emma L. (Anacker) Corning (mother)
Robert Corning (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38725
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Zeitz, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Braunkohle-Benzin A.G. Industry, an oil refinery
MACR: 11149

More information

The initial target was the oil plant of Lutzendorf. Instead, targets of opportunity were attacked.

The aircraft was hit by flak at the instant of bombs away. A large hole was observed between the #3 and #4 engines. The entire right wing burst into flames, and the aircraft peeled off to the right and lost altitude rapidly. The aircraft was not out of control, and some crews reported 1-2 chutes, though the majority saw no chutes. The incident was at 27,800 feet at 1318 hours over the target. Heavy contrails prevented further observation of this aircraft or its crew.

The deceased crew members were initially buried at the Michaelis Cemetery of Zeitz on 2 December 1944. The crew members, listed on the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle, were recovered after the war and transported to the American Military Cemetery in Ardennes. They could not be identified with sufficient certainty, so they were buried as unknown.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, www.ancestry.com Corning Family Tree / Census, www.fold3.com - MACR

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, http://www.447bg.com - Ms Amy Baker, http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/174968