Ralph James White
Military
media-380540.jpg
FRE 2217
Lieutenants Wardlaw Hammon and Walter B Keith, Co-pilot and pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 401st Bomb Group, talk with Captain RJ White.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296491.' [Censor no.]
Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows: The pilot and co-pilot talking with Captain RJ White.
Left to right: Lieut Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot of Philadelphia, Penn: Lieut Walter B Keith, pilot, of Hodgeville, Kentucky: and Capt RJ White of Kingsport, Tenn, who rescued the navigator from the burning plane. G. 11th December 1943. PN.'
Press caption for image series: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. All but two of the crew of a Flying Fortress which crashed on the village of Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, and exploded with its cargo of bombs following the fire which broke out inside the bomber, are back on operational duties with the Eighth Air Force. The navigator and bomb-aimer are still in hospital, recovering from injuries. They were rescued from the blazing Fortress shortly before the explosion. Gai. December 11 1943. Note to censor: This story covers the set of four pictures under the above title.’ Roger Freeman Collection
Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 12 Dec 1943.' [stamp] and '296491.' [Censor no.]
Printed caption on reverse: 'Photo shows: The pilot and co-pilot talking with Captain RJ White.
Left to right: Lieut Wardlaw Hammond, co-pilot of Philadelphia, Penn: Lieut Walter B Keith, pilot, of Hodgeville, Kentucky: and Capt RJ White of Kingsport, Tenn, who rescued the navigator from the burning plane. G. 11th December 1943. PN.'
Press caption for image series: 'FLYING FORTRESS CREW BACK IN ACTION FOLLOWING CRASH ON ENGLISH VILLAGE. All but two of the crew of a Flying Fortress which crashed on the village of Deenethorpe, Northamptonshire, and exploded with its cargo of bombs following the fire which broke out inside the bomber, are back on operational duties with the Eighth Air Force. The navigator and bomb-aimer are still in hospital, recovering from injuries. They were rescued from the blazing Fortress shortly before the explosion. Gai. December 11 1943. Note to censor: This story covers the set of four pictures under the above title.’ Roger Freeman Collection
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
On 5 Dec 1943 prior to a mission to Paris, an a/c unable to lift its heavy bombs in time, crashed into an unoccupied thatched roof of a house. There were no fatalities. Twenty minutes later, an explosion of bombs caused by flames from the engin
Air Medal, Soldier's Medal, Croix de Guerre
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
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Benefield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Michigan | 22 August 1917 | |
Died |
19 July 1965 | ||
Buried |
Kingsport, Tennessee |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.401bg.org/Main/History/Members/Details.aspx?ID=414