Ralph W Smithberger

Military

Shot down 29 May 1944 in B-17 #42-31924 'Ol' Dog. ' POW.

Purple Heart, EAME Medal

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 95th Bomb Group.

95th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Leon E Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Eugene H Buhler

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Lawrence E English

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Norman J Hines

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Don Toomere Payne

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-762182
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

42-31924

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Ol Dog
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Bethel Township, Monroe County, Ohio 8 November 1917

Enlisted

Patterson Field, Fairfield, Ohio, United States 2 July 1941 Enlisted as a Private in the Air Corps

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Żagań, Poland 29 May 1944

Died

Columbus, Ohio, United States 26 September 2002

Buried

Resurrection Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Added Serial Number at enlistment

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 5343
NARA WWII POW records

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5343 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database