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name
PRINGLE, Ralph Keneley - Date of
birth
13 October 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Thornton, Limestone County, Texas -
Hometown
Dawson County, Texas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-669389 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
367th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
22 December 1943 - Place of
death
Venne, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| K | 21 | 16 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Cordell O. Pringle (father)
Velma R. Pringle (mother)
Lula F. Cox (half-sister)
Leora C. Pringle (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3363 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Punchy
Destination: Osnabruck, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 1716
More information
Ralph Pringle was a clerk.He enlisted in Dallas, Texas on 25 November 1940.
Enemy aircraft knocked out #1 and #2 enignes and severely damaged a wing. Three crew members managed to bail and were taken prisoner, seven men were killed. They were initially buried at the POW cemetery of Achmer air base on 23 December 1943.
Ralph K. Pringle's parachute got attached to the plane, killing him as the plane crashed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, www.wwiimemorial.com, Footnote
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Arie-Jan van Hees, Bombadier Class Book 42-15, Midland Army Air Field, Texas, Philippe Smeets / http://forum.armyairforces.com/photo.aspx?photoid=8326&albumid=560