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Personal info

Full name
BEIGHLEY, Ralph Glenn
Date of birth
23 July 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Etna, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33669821
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer
Unit
568th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
14 January 1945
Place of death
Near Dreetz, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
A 30 17

Immediate family

Members
Carl W. Beighly (father)
Marly L. Beighley (mother)
Grant R. Beighly (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38337
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Cloud Hopper
Destination: Derben, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oil storage
MACR: 11721

More information

T/Sgt Ralph G. Beighley worked in a machine shop before he enlisted in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on 31 March 1943.

The Missing Aircrew Report reports: "Aircraft lost during intense fighter attacks by approximately 100 FW 190s and ME 109s in the area between 5300N-1200E and 5220N-1250E at about 1240 hours. Due to the fact that the entire squadron was lost during these encounters, there are no particulars available on the attack and subsequent loss of this aircraft. Approximately 14 chutes reported seen from the 8 aircraft lost in this squadron."

Six crew members were killed, three were taken prisoner.

The deceased crew members were initially buried at the community cemetery of Dreetz on the same day as the crash. On 1 July 1947, the remains were disinterred and the bodies of five members, John B. Hankey, Robert R. Richter, William L. Blankenship, William I Sink Jr. and Ralph G. Beighley were discovered in a common grave without coffins.

T/Sgt Beighley was evacuated as Unknown X-6006 to Ardennes and possitively identified through tooth charts, ID tags and the place of the initial burial. He was given his final resting place on 29 June 1949.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWII Memorial, Fold3, IDPF, WWII Draft Card, 1930 US Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten