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name
RALSTON, James Jr - Date of
birth
3 May 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Baltimore, Maryland
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-772726 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Bombardier -
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 August 1944 - Place of
death
Wilhelmshorst, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 20 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
James Ralston (father)
Theresa E. (Stevenson) Ralston (mother)
Thelma E. Ralston (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37920 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the engine factories
MACR: 7585
More information
James Ralston Jr. graduated from Polytechnic Institute. He was employed at Rustless Iron & Steel Company.He enlisted at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland on 9 June 1941.
The airplane was hit by flak and attacked by German fighters. Three crew members survived and were taken prisoner, six men were killed.
According to surviving crew members, Lt Ralston may have been killed by Germans when he landed because he was unhurt when he bailed out.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1940 Census / WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Evening Sun - 20 June 1944, Dave Freels - courtesy of The Eight Air Force Historical Society