Ralph L Gray

Military

Bailed out over Ruhr around Essen, Germany, in B-17 #42-38113 'Renne III' and taken prisoner 21 March 1945. All crew members were taken Prisoner of War (POW); did not crash near Bremen-error in MACR. Was also on plane of 'Lady Be Good' as co-pilot, part of Lt Craig Greasons Crew. Plane is pictured in Mighty Eighth Museum.



POW; Purple Heart; Air Medal w 1/Oak Leaf Cluster; Good Conduct Medal/ American Campaign Medal/EAME Medal/WW II Victory Medal/Army of Occupation Medal w/ Germany clasp; Honorable Service Lapel Button WW II/ sharpshooter Badge W/pistol bar.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 457th Bomb Group.

457th Bomb Group

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

Aircraft

Dark-colored B-17 bomber airplane parked on tarmac. The numbers 1000 are painted in white behind the cockpit. Under the cockpit are the words "From the Employees of the B-17 Project, Douglas, Long Beach". There is a large industrial looking building in the background

42-38113

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rene III
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron 750th Bomb Squadron

43-38594

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lady B Good
  • Unit: 457th Bomb Group 749th Bomb Squadron

Places

The mission board of the 457th Bomb Group. Official caption printed on image: '(GM-299-2-457)(16/5/45)(Op's Board's).'

Glatton

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Connington

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Bridgeport, Illinois 1 May 1917

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 21 March 1945

Died

12 December 1984

Buried

Bridgeport City Cemetery, Bridgeport, Illinois

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" for clarity. Added a POW event per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 13895 /son