Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
HEATHERLY, Ralph Everett Sr
Date of birth
1918
Age
unknown
Place of birth
Greenville County, South Carolina
Hometown
Fountain Inn, Greenville County, South Carolina

Military service

Service number
34896117
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
725th Bombardment Squadron,
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
7 February 1945
Place of death
Deutsch-Wagram, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
K 36 10

Immediate family

Members
Luther P. Heatherly (father)
Grace (Wilbanks) Heatherly (mother)
Judson B. Heatherly (brother)
Mattie L. Heatherly (wife)
Ralph E. Heatherly Jr. (son)

Plane data

Serial number
44-49418
Data
Type: B-24L
Destination: Vienna, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the refineries
MACR: 12089

More information

Sgt Ralph E. Heatherly Sr. attended college and was a stenographer before he enlisted in Camp Croft, South Carolina on 30 November 1943.

Capt Robert E. Smith:
"The subject ship received a direct flak hit in the bomb bays, causing them to burst into flame immediately. The aircraft passed beneath our bomb bays and appeared to be completely out of control. The ship was aflame from the forward bomb bays to the tail of the ship. On the right side of our ship, their left wing tore loose. The ship then disintegrated and no parachutes were seen to emerge from the aircraft."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Hamlin Family Tree, www.fold3.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Feb.45.html
Photo source: www.newspapers.com - The Greenville News South Carolina - 4 March 1945