. The following is submitted as documated by G. C. Ellis - Navigator 2nd Lieutenant on the B17 #44-6146 Little Cheezer in which Ralph served as the Tail Gunner'Mission #24: November 5, 1944: Target - Frankfurt. Marshalling yards. P. F. F. plus visual. Hydraulic system shot out over target. Lost No. 1 engine just after leaving target. Lost No. 2 engine just 7 minutes later. Hydraulic pump began smoking and sparking. Engineer (Sexton) pulled fuse to prevent fire. Fell behind Division column. Altitude and airspeed judge sufficient to make emergency field on English coast. Decided against landing in Belgium at Brussels. Landed at emergency field (Woodbrige) on English coast. Crossed coast at 2000' in thick fog. So bad that the rest of the group landed a diversion field. Landed in bad crosswind with the right flat tire. Crew in radio room for landing in crash-landing positions. Captain Lewis, our Assistant Squadron Commander came that evening with a skeleton crew and picked us up and took us back to our own field. Flying time 7 hrs. 15 minutes Bombing altitude 26,900' . Ship No. 146. Bomb load 6 1000 pound bombs. Accurate tracking and barrage flak at the target. Only 4-5 flak holes in plane. Ship was left at Woodbridge for 10+ days for repair(if it was repaired). We had flown this plane enough missions additive to a number of missions that a preceding crew had flown it, that our crew chief qualified for a Bronze Star. . . . I believe that Cooper received a Distinguished Flying Cross for bringing the plane and crew back safely on the two engines. '



Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Clusters; ETO ribbon W/2 stars/Dist. Unit citation/Good Conduct Medal/Pacific Campaign