Ralph C Ernst

Military

On 3 January 1943 in B-24D 41-23371 while serving as Radio Operator the aircraft made a crash-landing near the crossroads south of Puncheston, Pembrokeshire returning from target U/B yards (submarine) at St. Nazaire, France. Fuel shortage caused the crash. Ernst was injured and hospitalized until 6 January 1943. Copilot Canfield was killed and the only fatality.



On 14-May-43 in B-24D 41-23819 'Rugged Buggy' 44BG/68BS while serving as Radio Operator the aircraft was shot down by enemy aircraft on a mission to Kiel, Germany. He baled out and was captured. Prisoner of War (POW).



NOTE: This entry COMBINES data from an entry from Paul Andrews Project Bits and Pieces.

POW

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95260) nicknamed "Lili Marlene" of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group flies in formation with two comrades. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24 H & B-24 J OF 44th B.G. 66th Sqdn'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for takeoff at Shipdham in 1943. The 'Flying Eight-Ball' emblem of the 68th Bomb Squadron is visible on the nose of the leading aircraft. Image stamped with field press censor, 1943. Press Agency photograph- original printed caption has been removed.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Rugged Buggy
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Returned to Duty (RTD)

Puncheston, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA62, UK 3 January 1943 - 6 January 1943 Aboard B24D 41-23771 when it made a crash-landing, out of fuel, upon return from a mission to St. Nazaire, France. He was injured in the crash and in hospital until 6-Jan-43.

Born

Enderlin, North Dakota

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Krems an der Donau, Austria Held at Stalag 17B, Braunau-Genikendorf (near Krems), Austria. Officially Returned to Military Control (RMC) 26-Jul-45.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 17-Feb-2015. Added NOTE of combination of data from Paul Andrews Project Bits and Pieces.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2015. Added decoration and POW event per National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII POW database; confirmed SN per MACR 15509; Added RTD event, edited biography for chronological order, added crew position, corrected A/C nickname per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; made connections to Place, 2 AIrcraft and 2 Missions within existing website data; .

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15509, 44th BG/ 66th BS Shipdam 115 Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 61, p. 119 with picture of plane on 118, MACR 3301, 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Lundy p. 38, p. 70,The 44th BG in WWII by MacKay and Ad