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Personal info

Full name
WARNE, Ralph N
Date of birth
30 July 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Hackensack, Bergen County, New Jersey
Hometown
Bergen County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
12142954
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer
Unit
427th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
16 February 1945
Place of death
Altendorferstrasse
Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 15 19

Immediate family

Members
William M. Warne (father)
Margaret (Noblett) Warne (mother)
Margaret V. Warne (sister)
David W. Warne (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-39081
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Langendreer, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil refinery
MACR: 12439

More information

T/Sgt Ralph N. Warne graduated from Hackensack High School in 1940. He was employed as a clerk at the General Foods Company.

He volunteered for the Army Air Corps in New York City, New York on 15 September 1942.

The plane received a direct flak hit. The engine came off and hit the fuselage near the waist window. The plane was momentarily out of control but Lt. Wertz regained control. When last seen the aircraft was losing altitude and lagging behind the formation.

Three crew members were killed, six were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, 303rdBomberGroup.com, www.fold3 - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, www.wwiimemorial.com

Photo source: Michel Beckers, 303rdBomberGroup.com, 303Rd BGA Archives