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name
WHEELER, Ralph H - Date of
birth
8 January 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York -
Hometown
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32499061 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Aerial Engineer/Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
423rd Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 February 1944 - Place of
death
Near Herfen-Waldbröl, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 8 | 5 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Margaret M. Wheeler (mother)
Robert Wheeler (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-39945 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Holy Hellcat
Destination: Bernburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Junkers-Zweigwerke aviation industry
MACR: 2649
More information
Ralph H. Weeler of Brooklyn graduated from Manual Training High School and was a clerk.He enlisted at Fort Jay, New York on 9 September 1942.
The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters on the return flight. Seven crew members were killed. They were initially buried at the Evangelical Cemetery of Waldbröl on 25 February 1944.
Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/MACRmonthly/44FebMACR.htm, www.armyairforces.com, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) - 1 February 1945
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Dhr. F.E.A. Prevoo, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York), Michel Beckers/ www.8thafhsoregon.com/archive/306th/306th-BG-Combat-Crews-14.pdf