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name
RITCHIE, Robert Gerald - Date of
birth
27 February 1923 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Vancouver, Clark County, Washington -
Hometown
Vancouver, Clark County, Washington
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-777241 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
548th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
4 April 1945 - Place of
death
North Sea, northwest of Terschelling, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Arthur C. Ritchie (father)
Jeannette M. (Dally) Ritchie (mother)
Genevieve M. Ritchie (sister)
Ruth E. Ritchie (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38210 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Angel's Sister
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Deutsche Werke AG, U-boat yards
MACR: 13720
More information
1st Lt Robert G. Ritchie graduated from Vancouver High School in 1941 and was an electrician.He enlisted in Tacoma, Washington, on 3 February 1943.
The airplane collided with B-17 #43-38639. It broke in two. The front half continued a loop and went over the top of the other aircraft. The remainder of the aircraft adhered to the other airplane. The front portion crashed into the North Sea and no parachutes were seen. The remainder crashed with the other aircraft.
An air/sea rescue search was made of the area, but no crew members were seen nor were any bodies recovered.
Both B-17s had nine crew members. All eighteen men were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Family Tree / 1930 Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - Vancouver High School, 1941