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Submit- Full
name
RATTS, Dean McCormick - Date of
birth
11 December 1916 -
Age
28 -
Place of birth
Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri -
Hometown
Lindsay, Tulare County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-775127 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
334th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
3 February 1945 - Place of
death
400 m off beach pole 26 on the northwestern end of the island of Texel
The island of Texel, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| P | 13 | 11 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Arthur D. Ratts (father)
Bess M. (McCormick) Ratts (mother)
Clifford L. Ratts (brother)
Betty M. Ratts (sister)
Grace E. (Burke) Ratts (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-102951 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Tempelhof railroad station
MACR: 12048
More information
Dean Ratts worked in an aircraft factory.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Oxnard, California on 14 December 1942.
The aircraft was seen to be hit by flak just after bombs away, and a fire started on the wing. Three parachutes were seen to leave the aircraft on the eastern edge of Berlin. At that time, the aircraft was still on fire but under control. It also had a runaway prop, but managed to fly as far as Texel. It crash-landed about 400 m offshore.
The entire crew of nine men was killed.
Note: Only the engineer Sgt Leroy R. Hansen's remains were never found. He is remembered at the Walls of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery and Memorial at Cambridge. The bodies of all the other crew members washed ashore on Texel or Terschelling. Therefore, it can be assumed that the testimony about seeing parachutes leaving the plane over Berlin concerns another airplane.
Lt Ratt's body washed ashore on Texel. He was initially buried at the military cemetery of Den Burg on 7 February 1945.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / 1930 Census, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, David Kemp