Ralph E Maier

Military

Prisoner of War (POW) Shot down by flak and crashed at Wenden on 8/24/44 in B-24 Pistol Packin Bomma II #42-51278. On his 24th mission, 1/Lt Ralph Maier was flying Deputy Lead of the 446th BG. When the lead B-24's bombsight malfunctioned, he became the group lead. After bombing, first the flak hit one engine, then the nose, and lastly the fuel tank above the bomb bay. The squadron reported that it exploded and immediately dived, and that no parachutes were seen. To rescue his crew, Ralph started to climb up the catwalk through the burning fuel, until Lt. Lester Trump, co-pilot, threw him out of the open bomb bay. "The ripcord in my chute jammed and I fell for a while before I could reach behind my back and pull a pin so the reserve chute would open. It was a fight for life, but it was then I noticed that my hands were nothing but shreds of blackened skin. I couldn't help but wonder if I'd ever use them again. All the time I was falling, some farmers were firing bullets at me. When I landed, they started coming at me with pitchforks. A German soldier chased them away and actually rescued me, offering me a Camel cigarette, besides. And then, after hearing my name, which is German, he said 'Oberleutnant Maier, I think you are on the wrong side.'"

Connections

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Units served with

A flight of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group fly in formation above the clouds.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Pistol Packin Bomma II
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 707th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 24 August 1944
  • Date: 13 August 1944
  • Date: 11 August 1944

Places

Aerial photograph of Bungay (Flixton) airfield, looking south, the technical site- with T2 hangar- and control tower are to the right, where the main airfield gate is also situated, 16 October 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/930. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Flixton

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

POW

Bad Soden, Germany 24 August 1944 - 31 March 1945 First, Luftwaffen-lazarett 1/XI in Braunschweig, where he was treated for a gunshot to his calf while parachuting. Then, Reserve-lazarett IX-A/H in Haina, where he was left with the dead for three days until treated for gangrene. Then, Reserve-lazarett IX-C(a) in Obermabfeld, where he was treated for a shattered left fibula and shrapnel in his legs and feet. Then, recovering in Reserve-lazarett IX-C(b) in Meiningen. Lastly, Lazarett for Stalag IX-B in Bad Soden, where Dr. Major David Charters, RAMC, performed plastic surgery to his eyelid. Also treated for third degree burns to his hands and face. The above is documented in German medical records. As the ranking American officer, he performed burial services for Wiseman, Licht/Lichee, Hodges, Stratham, Masay, Anderson, Corporal Charles Hayes, McHead/McHed, Butz, and one other; all recorded in his Bible. Photographs and the original program (dated 26th Dec. 1944) show him in the theater production of "Yankee Doodle" by Geoffrey Bedding and Forrest W. Howell.

Born

St. Johns Michigan Ralph Maier grew up in a small farming town. He had never flown in a plane until enlisting in the Army Air Force in early 1942.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorEd Pachota
Changes
Sources

Service records: Individual Flight Records for June, July, and August. They were signed by Capt. Oscar F Fowler the operations officer for the 707th Bomb Squadron. These records list flight date, aircraft type, and first pilot's flying time.
Ed Pachota

Date
ContributorEd Pachota
Changes
Sources

Ralph Maier's quote from the Lansing State Journal,"WWII: 40 years of freedom" by Karen Douglas, January 27, 1985, page 1-D.

Date
ContributorEd Pachota
Changes
Sources

Ed Pachota, author of MISSION 24 and his son-in-law, has 1/Lt Maier's service records and family memorabilia.

Date
ContributorEd Pachota
Changes
Sources

Army service records on file with Ed Pachota

Date
ContributorEd Pachota
Changes
Sources

Mary Maier, Ralph Maier's wife. Medals on his uniform.
Army Service Records:
Air Medal awarded on June 29, 1944.
Unit Citation dated July 9, 1944.
1st Oak Leaf Cluster dated July 16, 1944.
3rd Oak Leaf Cluster dated August 28, 1944; but not awarded until December 17, 1945.
Purple Heart awarded April 18, 1945 at 179th Genera Hospital, Normandy Base Section

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8289 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database