Ralph Benjamin Whitesell
MilitaryShot down 29 May 1944 in B-24 #4252570 'Sack Happy. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-664616
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Sack Happy
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Pittsburg, OK, USA | 12 January 1918 | |
|
Other 466th BG Combat Tour |
Attlebridge, Norwich, UK | 22 March 1944 - 29 May 1944 | Shot down on his 15th combat mission |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland | 29 May 1944 - 29 May 1945 | Stalag Luft III |
|
Other Shot Down/Crash Landed |
24837 Schleswig, Germany | 29 May 1944 | Newspapers.com Miami Daily News-Record; June 15, 1944; page 1 Fairland Airman Is Missing In Action Flight Officer Ralph Whitesell, formally of Fairland, has been missing in action from his base in England since May 29, a telegram from the War Department to his wife, Virginia Whitesell, assistant Fairland post mistress, disclosed Wednesday. Before his enlistment in the air force, the bombardier was employed by Eagle-Picher Mining and Smelting company. He is a graduate of Fairland high school. Miami Daily News-Record; May 22, 1945; page 1 Ralph B. Whitesell Freed by 3rd Army Mrs. Kathryn V. Whitesell of Fairland received a letter from her husand, Flight Officer Ralph B. Whitesell, who has been a prisoner of the Germans since he was forced down over Germany May 29, 1944. He was released April 29 by the Third army forces of General Patton. At the time of his capture, he was serving on a B-24 Liberator. Mrs. Whitesell was presented with his air medal, and oak leaf cluster for five bomber combat missions during which he distingushed himself. Flight Officer Whitesells parents live in Pryor. |
|
Enlisted |
Miami, OK 74354, USA | 5 January 2000 |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5226 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database