Ralph Burbridge
MilitaryPilot - Lt. Claire M. Smartt (standing far right);
Copilot - Lt. Godfrey Engil;
Navigator - Lt. Harry C. Nuessle;
Bombardier - Lt. Ralph Burbridge;
Engineer/TTG - Sgt. Ermando P. Roviaro;
Radio Operator/WG - Sgt. Allen O. Williams;
Waist Gunner - Sgt. Robert J. Nichols;
Ball Turret Gunner - Sgt. James M. Abbott;
Tail Gunner - Sgt. Henry Wojciechowski.
After the 92nd Bomb Group completed its training at Sarasota Bradenton Field in Florida in late June 1942, it was ordered to VIII Bomber Command and the RAF Field at Bovingdon in Hertfordshire, England and began arriving on August 18, 1942 with the newly modeled B 17F Flying Fortresses. On August 24, 1942, the 97th BG exchanged most of their B 17E aircraft for the newly arrived B 17F aircraft delivered by the 92nd BG. The 414th BS exchanged their B-17E Hangar Queen (41-9021) for the B-17F 41-24400, which its Pilot 1st Lt. Claire M. Smartt named "Little Bill".
The 92nd BG conducted theater orientation training with the B-17E's exchanged with the 97th BG for the formers F series. The B-17E Hanger Queen (41-9021) was assigned to the 327th BS, 92nd BG.
For additional information, search for "Untold Stories of Colonel Rudy Flack" on Facebook. Once you download and save the latest version of the "main" book to your PC, you will find related details in Chapter 7 and Chapter 8.
Updated by Rick Flack on December 11, 2022.
Flew on the B-17 'All-American' Plane - a picture of it was one of the most famous of WW II where the German fighter almost cut it in half.
see:
href="http://b-townblog. com/2012/09/21/local-b-17-Bombardier-recalls-wing-and-a-prayer-mission-on-th">http://b-townblog. com/2012/09/21/local-b-17-Bombardier-recalls-wing-and-a-prayer-mission-on-the-all-american/
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: All American
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 353rd Bomb Squadron 414th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Big Bitch/ Hangar Queen
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron 414th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 17 August 1942
- Official Description:
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Louisiana, Pike County, Missouri, USA | 19 February 1920 | |
Died |
Des Moines, King County, Washington, USA | 3 March 2013 | |
Buried |
Kent, King County, Washington, USA | 28 June 2013 | Tahoma National Cemetery Section B Row A site 61 |
Revisions
Added an association to A/C #41-9021 per info with the media "UPL 39759".
Corrected a typo in the "Summary biography" - "the" was misspelled.
Updated the Buried event per Find-a-grave Memorial ID 113840837.
SOURCE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113840837/ralph-burbridge
Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Added an association to the 8th AF Bomber Command Mission #1 for 17 Aug 1942 per info in the book "The Allies Strike Back" by James Holland on page 277.
Added birth, death & burial events & rank per Find-a-grave MEMORIAL ID 113840837.
97th Bomb Group Association, Inc., Roster - June 1, 2000 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia