Ralph L Clinton

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

On 18 November 1942, while serving as Navigator, in 'Fury' B-17 #41-24499 bombs could not be released so were jettisoned in an open field. On return, 10 miles SW of Exeter, A/C collided with #41-24553 which was able to land safely; however Fury landed at RAF Turweston and was salvaged.



Shot down 23 November 1942 in B-17 #41-24479 'Sad Sack' while serving as Navigator. Aircraft was attacked by German fighters approximately 30 miles off the English coast after it had turned back because of mechanical malfunction in # 2 engine and crashed into the English Channel. The aircraft and crew were all lost.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

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

Aircraft

41-24479

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Sad Sack
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron

41-24499

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Fury
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Mid-Air Collision (MAC)

Turweston, Brackley, Buckinghamshire NN13, UK 18 November 1942 Was aboard 41-24499 when is sustained a mid-air collision with 41-24553. Aircraft landed at RAF Turweston but was too badly damaged to repair and was salvaged.

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

English Channel 23 November 1942 Killed when 41-24479 was attacked by German fighters and crashed into the English Channel. His remains were never recovered.

Other

Commemorated

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Madingley Road, Coton, Cambridgeshire CB23 7PH, UK Commemorated on the Wall of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 30-Nov-2014. Added MAC event and 41-24499 association per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; added KIA event per MACR 16273; added Commemoration event per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) record.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-Nov-2014. Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 16273; American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 16273 / MACR 16273, Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Volume I by Bishop and Hey p. 47 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database