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name
COLFLESH, Ralph M - Date of
birth
21 August 1916 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Wayne, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-760964 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
413th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
29 July 1944 - Place of
death
Böbber, 30 miles southwest of Hannover, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 32 | 11 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Edwin J. Colflesh (father)
Josephine W. Colflesh (mother)
Helen J. Colflesh (sister)
Virginia L. (Gassman) Colflesh (wife)
Craig M. Colflesh (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97262 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Leuna oil refinery
MACR: 7808
More information
The airplane was seen to break formation on route home with n° 3 engine feathered and bomb bay doors still open. It was seen to lag behind for half an hour before it broke in two and disappeared into the clouds.The entire crew of nine was killed. They were initially buried at the village cemetery of Bakede, Germany on 30 July 1944.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 43-K Pecos Army Flying School, Texas
Photo source: Peter Schouteten