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name
BENDER, Ralph Rueben - Date of
birth
19 September 1922 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
LaMoure County, North Dakota -
Hometown
Maricopa County, Arizona
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39851183 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
710th Bombardment Squadron,
447th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
3 March 1944 - Place of
death
Wesermünde-Bremerhaven, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Jacob W. Bender (father)
Katie Bender (mother)
Aaron C. Bender (brother)
Otillie M. Bender (sister)
Arline K. Bender (sister)
Harold W. Bender (brother)
Rachel R. Bender (sister)
Hilda L. Bender (sister)
Walter P. Bender (brother)
Ruth M. Bender (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31112 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Paper Doll
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial areas
MACR: 2887
More information
S/Sgt Ralph R. Bender graduated from Berlin High School in 1940 and was a smith.He enlisted in Phoenix, Arizona on 15 October 1942.
The mission of the day was to bomb industrial areas in Berlin. Due to deteriorating weather and dense contrails, the formations had to abort the mission. They turned back for home and crossed another formation. The airplane collided head-on with airplane 42-38075 and crashed with the loss of all on board both planes.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Eddie Dubiel, www.wwiimemorial.com - Missing Aircrew Report 2887
Photo source: Dennis and Gerda Hermsen, Eddie Dubiel, Charmane Disrud (niece)