Vrana, Ralph John

Individual Personnel Data
Name Vrana, Ralph John   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-777547   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #8 dated 9 January 1945, effective 9 January 1945.
  • Transferred to the AAF/ET Rhein Depot (Prov) (Main) AAF Station 594 Stone, England, per 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 15 October 1945, effective 15 October 1945.
Duty Co-pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 15 October 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Ditched and was rescued on 3 February 1945 mission. He was not hospitalized, but undoubtedly suffered from the effects of exposure to the cold North Sea.
    Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to Palace Hotel, Southport. AAF Station 524 (a Flak house) on or about 7 February 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #30 dated 6 February 1945.
  • From temporary duty at Palace Hotel to duty per 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 14 February 1945.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to Palace Hotel, Southport. AAF Station 524 (a Flak house) on or about 15 February 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #37 dated 14 February 1945.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 15315⇓ (25.934 MB)
Minor Accident of War⇗
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Long, Robert Clay⇗PilotKIA
2nd Lt. Vrana, Ralph JohnCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Field, Edward (NMI)⇗NavigatorFCMEW
CPL. Rudolph, Marvin Irving⇗TogglierCT
CPL. Maki, Fred Arnold⇗Radio Operator / GunnerMIA
SGT. Oglesby, Howard Jasper⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
PVT. Cook, Jack Coleman⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
CPL. Davis, Thomas Arnold⇗Tail GunnerTR
CPL. Duncan, Donald Ramsey⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 24 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
262⇗ 29 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Siegen, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38501⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
263⇗ 1 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38766⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
264⇗ 3 February 1945 Target: Tempelhof Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102501⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron. Aircraft left formation after bombs away with one engine feathered, damaged by flak.
Sortie Report⇗
287⇗ 12 March 1945 Target: Railway Center
Type: Transportation
Location: Betzdorf, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
288⇗ 14 March 1945 Target: Railroad Bridge, Weser River
Type: Transportation
Location: Bad Oeynhausen, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑39131⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
289⇗ 15 March 1945 Target: Army HQ
Type: Military
Location: Zossen, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑39131⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
291⇗ 18 March 1945 Target: Schlesischer Railway Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38501⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
292⇗ 19 March 1945 Target: Braunkohle-Benzin Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bohlen, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38501⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group.
Sortie Report⇗
293⇗ 20 March 1945 Target: Deutsche Werft Submarine Shipyard
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38501⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
294⇗ 22 March 1945 Target: German Hutted Camps (Barracks) at 51°36'N,7°06'E
Type: Military
Location: Westerholt, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38548⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
296⇗ 24 March 1945 Target: Vechta Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Vechta, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38757⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
298⇗ 26 March 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38501⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron. Landed away at RAF Manston on return due to low fuel. Returned to base later in the evening.
Sortie Report⇗
299⇗ 28 March 1945 Target: Berlin/Spandau Motor Transport Works
Type: Industry
Location: Spandau (Berlin), Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Replaced 43‑38584.
Sortie Report⇗
302⇗ 3 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38588⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
303⇗ 4 April 1945 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Fassberg, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
304⇗ 5 April 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot
Type: Military
Location: Ingolstadt, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
306⇗ 7 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Plant
Type: Military
Location: Hitzacker, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38548⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
307⇗ 9 April 1945 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany 		Co-pilot 44‑6909⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
308⇗ 10 April 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot Workshop Area
Type: Military
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Co-pilot 44‑6909⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned four bombs to base.
Sortie Report⇗
309⇗ 11 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Freiham, Germany 		Co-pilot 44‑6882⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
310⇗ 14 April 1945 Target: Gun Battery
Type: Military
Location: Royan (Bordeaux), France 		Co-pilot 44‑6909⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
311⇗ 15 April 1945 Target: Flak guns at Pointe de Suzac
Type: Military
Location: Royan, France 		Co-pilot 43‑39131⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
315⇗ 20 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Seddin, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑39197⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
316⇗ 25 April 1945 Target: Skoda Armament Works
Type: Industry
Location: Pilsen / Plzeň, Czechoslovakia 		Co-pilot 43‑39197⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Had one engine out due to battle damage. Landed away at A-70 (Laon/Couvron, France) on return.
Sortie Report⇗

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