Ralph Hawkins Wells
Military
Object Number - UPL 39450 - "A crew of the 379th Bomb Group poses beside their Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" 'Julie Mae' at 8th Air Force base in England on 11 May 1944."
Assigned to 527BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 34 x combat missions, all but 3 of which were in B-17 42-97170. Wheels up landing at night during a training flight on 31-Mar-44 in B-17F 42-29624 'Pappy'. RTD.
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (3 battle stars), UN and Korean medals.
Post war: Returning from his tour was initially instructed on B-17's and then B-29's before discharge. Re-enlisted Jul-51 to instruct on B-29's, transferring into Air Sea Rescue, retiring Sep-64 as Lt Colonel. Sales manager for Procter & Gamble, retired 1983.
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: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14072185 / O-757768
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20343711
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14139876 / T-61422 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37256041
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lynne Marie
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Pappy
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 379th Bomb Group 92nd Bomb Group 326th Bomb Squadron 359th Bomb Squadron 527th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: No Body's Baby
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Julie Mae
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Princeton, Caldwell County, KY | 15 August 1919 | Son of William Lindsey and Ruby King [Hawkins] Wells. |
|
Enlisted |
Bowman Field, Louisville, KY | 9 February 1942 | Bowman Field, Louisville, Kentucky |
|
Died |
Louisville, KY | 1 December 2002 | |
|
Buried |
Eddy Creek Cemetery, Caldwell County, KY | 4 December 2002 | Eddy Creek Cemetery Caldwell County, Kentucky |
|
Based |
Kimbolton | Assigned to 527BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
http://www.8thairforce.com/
https://www.fold3.com/image/650677128
https://www.fold3.com/record/84163584-ralph-h-wells
https://www.fold3.com/record/48971310-ralph-h-wells
The Distinguished Flying Cross Society By Turner Publishing Co
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40788651/ralph-h_-wells
379th Bombardment Group (H) Anthology,1942-45; p. 163. , Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
