Ross Cartee Bales
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Cpt. Ross C. Bales (pilot), 1Lt. Walter E. Dooley (Co-pilot), 2Lt. Paul M. Thomas (Navigator), 2Lt Carlton Browning (Navigator), KNEELING LEFT TO RIGHT: SGT. Homer T. Perkins (Waist Gunner), T/SGT. Raymond K. Winter Jr. (engineer), SGT. Jack D. Snell (Tail Gunner) S/SGT. Raymond H. Kilgore (Radio), S/SGT Joseph G. Zsampar (Ball Turret Gunner). MACR 15593
Object Number - UPL 50533 - FDR's Potato Peeler Kids, 303rd Bg. KIA 14 May 1943 (except 2Lt. Browning who was KIA 31 March 1943) STANDING LEFT TO RIGHT: Cpt. Ross C. Bales...
Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 14-May-43 in B-17 42-5243 'FDR's Potato Peeler Kids'. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 15593
Awards: AM (3OLC), PH.
Connections
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Units served with
People
![Staff-Sergeant Jack E Snell of the 303rd Bomb Group meets the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 56th Fighter Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'Confidential.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 29 Apr 1943.' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'During a recent inspection tour of an American airdrome the Duke of Gloucester pauses to shake hands with S/Sgt Jack E Snell, of Sedalin, Miss. Sgt Snell is a member of a Flying Fortress crew. In the foreground is Lt Col Hubert Zemke, Mis](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-456684.jpg.webp?itok=Esefy0tS)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17035135
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner/waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-?
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16046475
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18039537
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11019777
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Caldwell, ID, USA | 7 March 1920 | Son of John Franklin and Eva Lorene [Cartee] Bales. |
|
Died Killed in Action (KIA) |
North Sea | 14 May 1943 | Shot down 14-May-43 in B-17 42-5243 'FDR's Potato Peeler Kids'. Plane crashed into North Sea. KIA MACR 15593 |
|
Buried |
Netherlands American Cemetery | Wall of Missing Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherland | |
|
Based |
Molesworth | 14 May 1943 | Assigned to 359BS, 303BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Corrected S/N from MACR 15593 at Fold3.com.
Corrected label for KIA event.
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from :
MACR 15593 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15593, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I p. 118 by Bishop & Hey, WW II National Memorial