Richard J Ray Jr

Military

KIA, in crash on 8 June 1944 at Plantation Farm (3/4 mile north from Shippea Hill Station / Burntfen), Cambridgeshire - England (52°26'41"N / 0°24'45"E).



Crew had already taken-off for mission cancelled and was granted permission to remain in

flight for navigation training.



Aircraft touched the ground, 1 mile from the place of crash, where the #4 propellor and parts of the cowlings from #2, 3 and 4 engines were later found. Aircraft left the ground, went into a flat spin to the right and crashed.

42-97132 exploded on contact with the ground, the second time.

RAF Bomb Disposal Flight No 6213 Cambridge disarmed bombs.

AAF accident report: 44-6-8-529.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16023292
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner, Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-815825
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-812941
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17003857
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-754744
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Silver Lady
  • Unit: 388th Bomb Group 562nd Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Wills Point, Texas 14 September 1923

Died

Plantation Farm, Burnt Fen, Cambridgeshire 8 June 1944 KIA, in crash at Plantation Farm, Burnt Fen, Shippea Hill Station, Cambridgeshire.

Revisions

Date
Contributorterveurn
Changes
Sources

from AAF records

Date
Contributorusxpat
Changes
Sources

ancestry.com
findagrave memorial #3199229
accident report correspondence dated 24 Oct 1944

Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces, volume 3
Stan D Bishop & John A Hey, MBE
Bishop’s Books
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6NY
©2009

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.388bg.info/Personnel.html