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Personal info

Full name
RITTER, Marvin Billy
Date of birth
15 May 1921
Age
22
Place of birth
Jasper, Jasper County, Texas
Hometown
Gary, Panola County, Texas

Military service

Service number
38302100
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
412th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
11 December 1943
Place of death
North Sea, off the coast of Langeoog, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Pink Paul Ritter (father)
Maud (Childress) Ritter (mother)
Bessie M. Ritter (sister)
Rudolph R. Ritter (brother)
Marguerite Ritter (sister)
Ida B. Ritter (sister)
Kenneth Ritter (brother)
Pink Paul Ritter Jr. (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30182
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Blondie II
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 1562

More information

Sgt Marvin B. Ritter worked on a farm.

He enlisted in Tyler, Texas on 2 November 1942.

Statement from David E. Olsson, 1st Lt, Air Corps, Asst. Operations Officer:
"B-17 42-30182, piloted by 2nd Lt J.D. Moore, was last seen near the enemy coast, with No. 4 engine on fire. Six chutes were seen to leave the ship."

The airplane ditched off the coast of Langeoog. The entire crew of ten men was killed. Their remains were never recovered. Eight of them are remembered on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten. Two, Frank Abbadessa and Leonard Eaton, are remembered on the Walls of the Missing at Cambridge Cemetery.

His brother Kenneth Ritter fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Silver Star Medal. His oldest brother, Rudolph Ritter, fought in WWII as well.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Kenneth Ritter (brother), Carol D. Ritter-Scandale (niece), www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / 1940 Census / Family Tree, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com

Photo source: Maurice Schaafstra