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name
BODE, Ralph Henry - Date of
birth
24 July 1924 -
Age
21 -
Place of birth
Kenosha, Kenosha County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Wisconsin -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16117549 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
700th Bombardment Squadron,
445th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
28 September 1945 - Place of
death
2 km southwest of Richelsdorf, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Alfred C. Bode (father)
Lydia K. (Duenow) Bode (mother)
Ruth Bode (sister)
Alfred C. Bode (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-95078 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Kassel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Henschel aircraft plant
MACR: 9396
More information
S/Sgt Ralph H. Bode was a chauffeur before he joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 13 November 1942.The mission took place on 27 September 1944.
After successfully dropping its bombs, the aircraft was on its return flight when its formation was attacked by numerous German fighter planes. During the ensuing air battle, this B-24 was badly damaged and several crew members were wounded. A fire started near the bomb bay and three crew members bailed out. These men survived and were taken prisoner. The remaining six crew members are believed to have gone down with the plane or were lost while attempting to bail out.
T/Sgt Palmer was officially declared dead one day and one year after he was reported missing in action.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.ancestry.com, www.nara.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com