Ralph C Laurence

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

On January 3, 1943 B-24 #4123808 'Texan' crashed in field near Aberporth airfield, Cardiganshire, returning from target U/B yards (submarine) at St. Nazaire, France. Fuel shortage caused the crash. 11RTD No MACR issued.



On 16-Feb-43 while serving as Waist Gunner on B-24D 41-23818 'Texan II' the aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with B-24D 42-40354 "Sanfu" 44BG/66BS off the English coast near Selsey Bill, Sussex and crashed into the English Channel. Killed in Action (KIA)



Air Medal, Purple Heart

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.

44th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The 'semiofficial' insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

67th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

41-23808

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Texan
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for take off at Shipdham in 1943. A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23818) nicknamed "Bela" leads the lineup; one of her waist gunners is at his position. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 16 FEB 1943 General Section Press & Censorship Bureau' and 'Reviewed and Passed U.S. Army 16 Feb 1943 Press Officer No. 21 E.T.O.' Printed caption on reverse: '21-25. Liberator bombers taxi-ing up to take off for the start of an operational patrol at their

41-23818

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Texan II - Bela - Miss Marcie Ann
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Returned to Duty (RTD)

Aberporth, Ceredigion, UK 3 January 1943 On 3-Jan-43 in B-24D 41-23808 "Texan" while serving as Waist Gunner, the aircraft made a crash-landing in a field near Aberporth, Cardiganshire when it ran out of fuel upon return from a mission to St. Nazaire, France.

Born

Northville, Michigan, USA

Buried

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Selsey Bill, Selsey, Chichester, West Sussex PO20, UK 16 February 1943 Killed in B-24D 41-23818 "Texan II" sustained a mid-air collision with B-24D 42-40345 "Snafu" 44BG/66BS off the coast of Selsey Bill, Sussex. Both aircraft crashed into the English Channel. His remains were never recovered.

Other

Commemorated

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Madingley Road, Coton, Cambridgeshire CB23 7PH, UK Commemorated on the Wall of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-2015. Added Tail Gunner to role per MACR 4697.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 1-Feb-2015. Added decoration and Commemorated event per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) record; confirmed SN and added KIA event per MACR 4697; Made connections to Place, 2 AIrcraft and 2 Missions within existing website data; Added RTD event, Edited biography for chronological order, added target and loss details per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4697 & 3302 A / MACR 4697,Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey pp. 61-62, 79; 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Lundy pp. 41, 50, The 44th BG in WWII by MacKay and Adams pp.27, 32., WWII Memorial web site / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database