Ralph Herman Koebcke
Military
Radio Operator/Gunner
340th BG - 486th BS - 12th AF
Object Number - UPL 54907 - TSGT Ralph Herman Koebcke Radio Operator/Gunner 340th BG - 486th BS - 12th AF
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
- Unit: 486th Bomb Group 340th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Advanced Landing Ground Alesanie
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Franceville, Indiana | 4 December 1919 | |
| Franceville, Indiana | 1 July 1941 | ||
|
Enlisted |
Lafayette, Indiana | 16 March 1942 | |
|
Died |
near Camugnano, Italy | 3 June 1944 | On June 3, 1944, 18 B-25 Aircraft of the 486th Bomber Squadron; 340th Bomber Group; 57th Bomber Wing, took off from the Alesan Airfield in Corsica. Their target was a railroad bridge located at Lagaro Nord, about 45 km south of Bologna. The mission (#164) was part of “Operation Strangle”, the operation focused on cutting off the enemy from getting supplies to the front-line troops. The mission was a success with bombs hitting the target. One B-25, however was hit by anti-aircraft fire near the target and struggled back to base. B-25 (43-27727) piloted by 1st LT Coleman Sellers with a crew of 5 was hit and had an engine aflame. Sellers was able to level the aircraft so the crew could bail out. Reports indicated either 5 or 6 chutes and a plane that crashed about 25 kms southwest of the target and burst into flames. Of the crew, two evaded the enemy and returned to duty; three where captured, and one died in the crash. The crew of 43-27727 included and their status: 1ST Lt. Coleman Sellers, Pilot - Liberated 2nd Lt. Alfred E Coons, Co-Pilot - POW 2nd Lt. Bradford A. Tupper, Bombardier - POW T/Sgt. John F. McDonough, Armorer/ Gunner - Liberated T/Sgt. Ralph H. Koebcke, Radio Op/ Gunner - KIA S/Sgt. Gerald J. Carey, Tail Gunner - POW The local Italian community placed a plaque at the crash site remembering the sacrifice of the crew. The point of impact is still visible today. |
|
Buried |
Florence American Cemetery and Memorial Florence, Città Metropolitana di Firenze, Toscana, Italy PLOT Plot B Row 2 Grave 20 |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=40533
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56364684/ralph-herman-koebcke
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2238/images/44009_08_0…
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8939&h=6705355…
https://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=1364&Me…
