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Military
S/Sgt Ray Lacey, 547BS, 384BG.
42-38014 Nose Art, LITTLE AMERICA II
384th Bombardment Group KEEP THE SHOW ON THE ROAD
546th Bombardment Squadron Patch
Assigned to 546BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. Walt Ramsay crew. 30 x combat missions. ETD
B-17 42-38014 'Little America II' - Lead squadron. Crashed while landing at RAF Detling, Kent, on return from mission with battle damage. Struck obstructions including a hut, destroying aircraft. RTD.
Awards: AM (4OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Staff Sergeant | SJ, Spot Jammer, Waist Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to 546BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. Walt Ramsey crew. 19 x combat missions. Killed in Action (KIA) near Duisburg in B-17 'Heavenly Body' 43-39053 Left formation at target on fire after aircraft received direct flak burst, setting #4 on fire and #2...
Military | Technical Sergeant | MOS 748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer | 384th Bomb Group
Assigned to 546BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. Walt Ramsay crew. 27 combat missions. ETD
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Military | Sergeant | MOS 611 Tail Gunner | 384th Bomb Group
Joseph Kotys served as a tail gunner with the 546th Bomb Squadron of the 384th Bomb Group.28 x combat missions. After the war, he was a successful gymnast for Kent State University. Olympic games 1948. Won 1949 & 1950 NCAA all-around titles & four...
Military | Technical Sergeant | MOS 757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF | 384th Bomb Group
42-38014 BK-G, LITTLE AMERICA II - Lead Squadron. Crashed while landing at RAF Detling, Kent, on return from mission with battle damage. Struck obstructions including a hut, destroying aircraft. There were no personnel injuries.
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 384th Bomb Group
42-38014 BK-G, LITTLE AMERICA II - Lead squadron. Crashed while landing at RAF Detling, Kent, on return from mission with battle damage. Struck obstructions including a hut, destroying aircraft. There were no personnel injuries.
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Military | Second Lieutenant | 1034 - Navigator | 384th Bomb Group
Crash Landing Detling, Maidstone, Kent ME14, UK 1 January 1945
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Military | First Lieutenant | 1091 - Pilot, B-17 | 384th Bomb Group
42-38014 BK-G, LITTLE AMERICA II - Lead squadron. Crashed while landing at RAF Detling, Kent, on return from mission with battle damage. Struck obstructions including a hut, destroying aircraft. There were no personnel injuries.
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Military | First Lieutenant | 1091 - Pilot, B-17 Co-Pilot, Pilot | 384th Bomb Group
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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Group
The 384th Bomb Group flew B-17s from Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, between May 1943 and June 1945. They were engaged in daylight bombing missions over Germany as part of the Allies' efforts to destroy the effectiveness of the Luftwaffe by...
Squadron
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 26/11/43; New Castle 10/12/43; Presque Is 15/12/43; Assigned 547BS/384BG [SO-C] Grafton Underwood 21/1/44; sal battle damaged 27/4/44. NEVADA AVENGER.
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered to Cheyenne 14/11/43; Kearney 3/12/43; Presque Isle, Maine 9/12/43; Assigned to the 546th BS/384th BG [BK-G] at Station 106, Grafton Underwood on 6/1/44; (19/9/44 - struck by flak just before the IP; after dropping bombs on target left...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 7/12/43; Kearney 25/12/43; Assigned 546BS/384BG [BK-A] Grafton Underwood 18/2/44; transferred 398BG Nuthampstead 27/5/45; no ops, to RAF Valley 2/6/45; Returned to the USA Bradley 7/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 13/6/45;...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 16/8/44; Lincoln 25/8/44; Grenier 12/9/44; Assigned 385BG Gt Ashfield 18/9/44; transferred to the 546th Bombardment Squadron, 384 Bombardment Group, squadron code BK-M, Grafton Underwood, Station 106 on 27 September 1944; transferred...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Lincoln 16/9/44; Grenier 27/9/44; Assigned 546BS/384BG [BK-N] Grafton Underwood 15/10/44; transferred with group to Istres on mapping duties, Salvaged 9AF Germany 10/12/45.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Lincoln 31/10/44; Grenier 12/11/44; Assigned 546BS/384BG [BK-Q] Grafton Underwood 17/12/44; transferred with group to Istres for mapping duties, Salvaged 9AF Germany 29/12/45. DEVASTATING LADY.
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Lincoln 9/12/44; Grenier 21/12/44; Assigned 546BS/384BG [BK-B] Grafton Underwood 17/1/45; transferred with group to Istres on mapping duties, Salvaged 9AF Germany 18/9/46; re-ass AF 10 HBS Oberpfaffenhofen 30/4/47; Recl Comp 19/11/47. PRIMO'S...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Lincoln 16/12/44; Dow Fd 22/12/44; Assigned 731BS/452BG Deopham Green 7/1/45 ANNONY MISS; transferred 546BS/384BG [BK-H] Grafton Underwood 4/2/45; transferred with group to Istres, France for passenger transport duties (Green Project),...
1 January 1945
Military site : airfield
Grafton Underwood was built in 1941 by George Wimpey and Co. Ltd. It was the first airfield in England to receive an Eighth Air Force flying unit, when in May 1942 personnel of the 15th Bomb Squadron took up residence. As a satellite airfield for...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Edwards County, TX, USA | 25 February 1925 |
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Son of William David and Ida [Pratt] Lacey. |
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| Enlisted | San Antonio, TX | 5 May 1943 |
| Based | Grafton Underwood NN14, UK | 16 December 1944 – April 1945 |
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Assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group, 546th Bombardment Squadron on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #247 dated 16 December 1944, Walter E. Ramsay Crew. 30 combat missions. |
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| Discharged USAAF | 3 December 1945 | |
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Honourable discharge. |
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| Enlisted | 23 January 1946 | |
| Discharged USAF | 31 October 1966 | |
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Honourable discharge. |
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| Died | San Antonio, TX, USA | 19 June 1994 |
| Buried | Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX | 23 June 1994 |
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Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery |
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