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Personal info

Full name
LEFFELMAN, Ralph J
Date of birth
2 January 1910
Age
35
Place of birth
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
Hometown
Seattle, King County, Washington

Military service

Service number
19112019
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator/Gunner
Unit
322nd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
8 April 1945
Place of death
Stendahl, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
L 1 7

Immediate family

Members
Jacob W. Leffelman (father)
Anna (Wuddy) Leffelman (mother)
Antone Leffelman (brother)
Bertha Leffelman (sister)
Jacob Leffelman, Jr. (brother)
Anna A. Leffelman (sister)
Mary M .Leffelman (sister)
Mary (Pompeo) Leffelman (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-31333
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Wee Willie
Destination: Stendahl, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 13881

More information

S/Sgt Ralph Leffelman was a truck driver. He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Seattle, washington on 28 August 1942.

Both his parents were born in Austria. His father was widowed in 1920. The family name was 'Loeffelman' but was changed in later years.

Statement from S/Sgt George Little, crew member of another B-17 in the same group:
"We were flying over the target at 20,500 feet altitude when I observed aircraft B-17G, 42-31333 to receive a direct flak hit approximately between the bomb-bay and the No. 2 engine. The aircraft immediately started into a vertical dive. The aircraft fuselage was on fire and when it had dropped approximately 5,000 feet the left wing fell off. It continued down when the fuselage was about 3,000 feet from the ground it exploded, and then exploded again when it hit the ground. I saw no crew members leave the aircraft or parachutes open."

All nine crew members were killed.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, MACR, 91stbombgroup.com, American Air Museum, www.ancestry.com - 1910/1940 Census, www.archives.gov - WWII Army Enlistment Record, WWII Draft Cards; Washington, County Marriages 1855-2008

Photo source: Michel Beckers