Austin, Ralph Earl

Individual Personnel Data
Name Austin, Ralph Earl
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 37512616
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #140 dated 17 July 1944, effective 17 July 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 27 January 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 11 November 1923
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #204 dated 15 October 1944.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (TD) to Spetchley Park, AAF Station 562 (a Flak house) on 8 November 1944 to carry out the instructions of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #219 dated 6 November 1944.
Related Documents A Personal Account⇓ (0.058 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Henderson, William Vincent⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Oosterhof, Franklin Gerald⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Segars, Arthur Woodrow⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Smith, George Kitchen⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Owens, Buddy Louis⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Rodgers, William Mack⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Tobman, Milton (NMI)⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Woodruff, Walker Ace⇗Tail GunnerPOW
SGT. Austin, Ralph EarlFlexible GunnerCT
PVT. O'Malley, Herbert Mathew⇗Flexible GunnerTR
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 35 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
167⇗ 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
168⇗ 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
169⇗ 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
172⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37982⇗ Combat Mission Credit
This aircraft carried delayed-action bombs which were jettisoned in the Channel.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
178⇗ 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
179⇗ 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
180⇗ 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
181⇗ 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
183⇗ 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97142⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
185⇗ 26 August 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
188⇗ 5 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
190⇗ 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
191⇗ 10 September 1944 Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Sindelfingen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑107121⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
194⇗ 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97592⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy; PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
195⇗ 17 September 1944 Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical
Type: Military
Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
E Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
198⇗ 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
C Wing, low group deputy. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
201⇗ 28 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Magdeburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38616⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97986. Note that the 'mickey' navigator Schwab (indicated on formation chart) was not included on the crew list for this aircraft, indicating the original aircraft planned for this crew was PFF-equipped, while this one was not. Led wing back to base after target after taking over for flak-damaged wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
202⇗ 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6476⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
205⇗ 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Deputy lead. This aircraft led the group on two PFF runs, was hit by flak over target area and lost two engines; could not keep up with group and was going to land in Belgium; plane was under control, but was reported to explode at about 2,000' altitude. However, while it was out of commission for about two months, it was back flying combat missions in December.
Sortie Report⇗
209⇗ 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Fourth Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
214⇗ 19 October 1944 Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑98034⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship. Due to failure of Gee-H equipment on deputy, led attack on PFF secondary target.
Sortie Report⇗
215⇗ 25 October 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38501⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
216⇗ 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
220⇗ 5 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38616⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship; low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
227⇗ 20 November 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship; high Squadron lead, 41st C group.
Sortie Report⇗
230⇗ 26 November 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenbeken, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead; PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
233⇗ 30 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
235⇗ 4 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Soest, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8221⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Landed away at Boxted due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
237⇗ 9 December 1944 Target: Airfield and Daimler Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Böblingen (Stuttgart area), Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship (no Gee-H Navigator on today's crew). Capt Ulrey intended to release on group lead, but his bombardier 'picked up the target visually, and made a visual run.'
Sortie Report⇗
243⇗ 24 December 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Kirch Göns, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38616⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Landed away at Ridgewell Airfield, AAF Station 167, due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
244⇗ 27 December 1944 Target: Bridge (Tactical)
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenahr, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38616⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron: division deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
248⇗ 1 January 1945 Target: Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Derben, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
253⇗ 8 January 1945 Target: Railroad
Type: Transportation
Location: Kyllburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38501⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
257⇗ 20 January 1945 Target: Rail and Road Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead; PFF ship. Landed away at RAF Stradishall, Suffolk.
Sortie Report⇗

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