Ralph E Lavoie
Military
Back, left-to-right: William Boomhower, Bombardier; Donald Irwin, Navigator; Richard McCray, Co-Pilot; George Riches, Pilot; Bernard Anderson, Engineer. Front, left-to-right: Ralph Lavoie, Ball Turret; Freeman Penney, Radio; Stan Martin, Tail Gunner; Guy Smith, Right Waist; William Waller, Left Waist.
Object Number - UPL 65049 - Riches Crew, 545th Bomb Squad, 384th Bomb Group. Crashed 25 June 1943, 42-30143, Mission No. 67. Back, left-to-right: William Boomhower,...
Shot down 25 June 1943 in B-17 #4230143 'Yankee powerhouse. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39832711
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 545th Bomb Squadron 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-742514
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14074156
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yankee Powerhouse
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 25 June 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States | 20 April 1921 | Ralph Edmund Lavoie, the son of Joseph and Stella (Loyzell) Lavoie. |
|
Enlisted Prisoner of War (POW) |
Springfield, Massachusetts, United States | 10 September 1942 - 25 June 1943 | |
|
Died |
Hampton, Rockingham County, United States | 9 May 2009 | |
| Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States | |||
|
Other Prisoner of War |
Ralph Lavoie was shot down over Germany on June 25, 1943 and spent 15 months as a Prisoner of War at Stalag 7-S and Stalag 17B (XVIIB), near Krems, Austria. He was seriously wounded in an escape attempt on 3 December 1943, together with S/Sgt James Proakis (42-30387 – 92nd Bomb Group – shot down 3 December 1943) and S/Sgt William H. Binnebose Jr (42-30274 - 95th BG - shot down 17 August 1943). Sgts Ralph Lavoie and William Binnebose survived, but James Proakis was shot and killed that day. Severely wounded and first cared for in German hospitals, S/Sgt Ralph Lavoie was repatriated back to the United States in an exchange of wounded prisoners. He arrived in Jersey City, New Hampshire, on board the Swedish hospital ship “Gripsholm” on 26 September 1944. He married his fiancée, Mary Kendall, on 30 November and entered Cushing General Hospital in Framingham, Massachusetts, to undergo surgery on his legs. He was hospitalized for two years and received a medical discharge in 1946. He is mentioned In Roger Freeman’s book “The Mighty Eighth War Diary”, in an entry for the 25 June 1943 mission : “One of Lavoie’s first actions [after returning to the US ] was to write to the Commanding Officer of the 384th Bomb Group: ‘I was ball turret gunner on an original crew of the 384th and was shot down on the Group’s second mission. Four of my crew were killed and six taken prisoner. The story I really want to tell you is about my pilot, who was killed saving six lives. The co-pilot was hit by Flak and killed. Lt (George W.) Riches’ right arm was almost shot off which made it impossible for him to work the automatic pilot. Our ship was on fire. He used his good arm to fly the plane and ordered the rest of us out. The ship blew up before he had a chance to get out himself. Lt Riches died saving our lives’. As a result of this letter, the Silver Star, third ranking decoration for gallantry, was posthumously awarded to Riches. The survivors of his crew thought him worthy of the Medal of Honor." |
Revisions
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
Roger Freeman’s “The Mighty Eighth War Diary”
MACR 16378
Richard H. Hoffman’s book “STALAG 17B – Prisoner of War” – Chapter 7.
Details from the 14 December, 1944 issue of the Fitchburg Sentinel
Obituary by his niece Mary Anne Audette at the 384th BG website : http://www.384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/TAPS.php
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
Roger Freeman’s “The Mighty Eighth War Diary”
MACR 16378
Richard H. Hoffman’s book “STALAG 17B - Prisoner of War” – Chapter 7.
Details from the 14 December, 1944 issue of the Fitchburg Sentinel
Obituary by his niece Mary Anne Audette at the 384th BG website : http://www.384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/TAPS.php
MACR 16378 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database