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name
BARTHOLOW, Ralph - Date of
birth
11 July 1924 -
Age
20 -
Place of birth
Millersville, Marion County, West Virginia -
Hometown
Marion County, West Virginia
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35755660 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Engineer/Gunner -
Unit
743rd Bombardment Squadron,
455th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
13 October 1944 - Place of
death
Area south of Ehrenforst near Heydebrock, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Carl C. Bartholow (father)
Hazel J. (Hansford) Bartholow (mother)
Carl Bartholow Jr. (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-78605 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Blechhammer, Germany
Mission: Combat
MACR: 9055
More information
Ralph Bartholow attended East High School and was employed at Fairmont Aluminum when inducted. He was on his 6th mission when killed.Aircraft 605 received a direct flak burst amidship, after it had released the bomb lead on the target at Blechhammer South oil refinery, and to go down in two distinet parts at 50.18N-18.15 E. No explosion or fire was noted. Three to five parachutes were reported as coming from the plane, primarily from the forward portion.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.15thaf.org, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, West Virginia Memory Project, www.ancestry.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Fairmont Times