Ralph Louis Squires

Military
media-37850.png UPL 37850 Photo of Ralph Squires, cropped from the one showing him and his five brothers (William, Earl, Paul, Harold and Hugh) on the William D. Squires Foundation website at https://wmdsquiresfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/
The six brothers served in the military in World War II and all saw combat, all returning home safely. Their mother received a letter of acknowledgement expressing the nation’s gratitude from The Secretary of War.

From the Squires Foundation website at https://wmdsquiresfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/

Object Number - UPL 37850 - Photo of Ralph Squires, cropped from the one showing him and his five brothers (William, Earl, Paul, Harold and Hugh) on the William D. Squires...

Ralph Squires was Tail Gunner on board of B-24 42-51506 on the 27 February 1945 mission to the Halle Marshalling Yards, Germany. Crashed Betzenhausen, 1,5km NW of Freiburg-im-Breisgau, Germany. Prisoner of War (POW). He was one of six brothers who all served during WWII and got back home safely.

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 701st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39911604
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 701st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33728946
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 701st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35331002
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 701st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2072788
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator / Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 701st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36758482
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 701st Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Signal Squares on the airfield at Tibenham, B-24 Liberators of the 398th Bomb Group are visible in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tibenham Signal Squares.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Tivetshall

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

27 August 1922 Utica, Knox County, Ohio, the son of John I. and Sarah E. Squires

Enlisted

11 December 1942 as a Private in the Air Corps, Columbus, Ohio

Other

Captured

27 February 1945 in the immediate vicinity of Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, after he baled out of B-24 42-51506

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

27 February 1945 Interned in Germany. NARA WWII POW records : “Returned to Military Control on 8 September 1945.”

Died

23 November 2001 Ohio
Jackson, Clay County, Indiana

Buried

Ralph Squires rests at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville, Licking County, Ohio

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 12778
NARA WWII Enlistment records
NARA WWII POW records
Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Birsic MACR 12778 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12778 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Ralph Louis Squires: Gallery (3 items)