Skip to main content
Edit entry 

Bobbie R Rankin

Military

  • Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group on the wing of P-38J-15-LO, s/n 43-28823 coded J2-Z. Aircraft was later transferred to the 428th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group. This ship was lost to flak just south of Manhay, Belgium on 25 December 1944. The pilot, 1Lt. Bobby R. Rankin, was KIA (MACR 11900).

    Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group on the wing of P-38J-15-LO, s/n 43-28823 coded J2-Z. Aircraft was later transferred to the 428th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group. This ship was lost to flak just south of Manhay, Belgium on 25 December 1944. The pilot, 1Lt. Bobby R. Rankin, was KIA (MACR 11900).

    Show caption About this image
  • Flight Cadet Bobbie Rankin.

    Flight Cadet Bobbie Rankin.

    Show caption About this image
  •  
  •  

Pilot P-38. Assigned to 428th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group, 9th AF. On Strafing run at La Roche, Belgium, hit by flak as A/C leveled off, bursting into flames. A/C climbed 2-300ft before diving into ground and exploding on impact. KIA. MACR 11900.

Awards: - Air Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster, DFC, PH.

In Memoriam

Remembered by Loyal P Stewart, San Antonio, TX.

Service

Units served with

Aircraft

  • 43-28823

    P-38 Lightning
    On Strafing run at La Roche, Belgium, hit by flak as A/C leveled off, bursting into flames. A/C climbed 2-300ft before diving into ground and exploding on impact. Pilot 1st Lt Bobbie R Rankin KIA. MACR 11900.

Associated Place

  • Warmwell

    Military site : airfield
    Originally named Woodsford, the station opened as a grass airfield Armament Practice Camp in 1937. Subject to a change of name in 1938, to avoid confusion with the Avro factory airfield of Woodford, RAF Warmwell was used as a training, fighter and ASR...

Events

Event Location Date
Born Philippines 1922
Lived in Cowley County, KS, USA 1940
Enlisted Tulsa, OK, USA 11 May 1942
Died 1490 La Roche, Belgium 25 December 1944

On Strafing run at La Roche, Belgium, hit by flak as A/C leveled off, bursting into flames. A/C climbed 2-300ft before diving into ground and exploding on impact. KIA. MACR 11900.
Buried 1945

Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Plot B Row 7 Grave 33
Nationality
Not yet known
Nickname
Not yet known
Service numbers
O-756022
Highest rank
First Lieutenant
Role/job
Pilot
Awards
  • Air Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
  • Distinguished Flying Cross
  • Purple Heart

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
07 January 2016 11:27:22 Al_Skiff Changes to biography, awards, events, unit associations and place associations
Sources

AAM DB Entry.
www.fold3.com - WWII Enlistment Records
www.fold3.com - WWII Army and Air Force Casualty List
www.fold3.com - MACR 11900
Date Contributor Update
26 November 2014 13:05:16 Emily Created entry with surname, middlename, firstname, service number, highest rank, role, memoriam, events and unit associations
Sources

Loyal P Stewart, via American Air Museum Memory Book Correspondence.

Page at ABMC

Share