UPL 31954

IMAGE

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Ralph I Fine copilot with his b24 liberator plane- the"Carioca Bev". Ralph painted this image on his plane. It depicts the cartoon joe carioca and to joe's right is Beverlee Rockler. Bev and Ralph married just after the war ended in Europe. They have five sons and fifteen grandchildren. Mpls., USA. The "carioca bev" is the second plane that Ralph and crew served on. Their first aircraft was a b24 liberator- "Earthquake Magoon" from which his crew flew 22 missions. Their last missions were flown on the" Carioca Bev" until the end of the war in Europe. At that point, they and numerous other crews from Europe were sent to an air base in South Dakota, awaiting orders to continue flying missions in the Pacific against Japan. However, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were soon destroyed , The war ended and Ralph returned home to Mpls. Ralph's younger brother Paul B Fine served as a navigator for the 8th Air Force as well. Paul served as a lifer in the USAF. He flew on over 50 missions in the Korean War, the early stages in Vietnam, etc.., Became the lead navigator and eventually a missile officer, counted down the launching with Eisenhower of the first IBM test in the US.

Revisions

Date:
Contributorcariocabev
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

Major Ralph I Fine stands next to his b24 liberator, the "Carioca Bev". Ralph hand painted its identifying image and named the plane the Carioca Bev after his future wife Beverlee Rockler. After the war ended in Europe, they were married and have five sons and fifteen grandchildren. Ralph (copilot) was part of the 466th BG, 787th, 8th air force. Ralplh remained in the Air Force reserves for 26 years.

Date:
Contributorcariocabev
ChangesCreated entry with collection and caption
Sources

Ralph I Fine copilot and his b24 liberator, the "Carioca Bev". Hand painted by Ralph I Fine. 466th BG, 787th.