Grant, Ralph Gilbert

Individual Personnel Data
Name Grant, Ralph Gilbert   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 11029725   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #71 dated 15 August 1943, effective 15 August 1943.
Duty Tail Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 8 March 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 19 November 1921
  • Ditched and rescued on 16 September 1943 mission to Nantes, France.
  • Placed on five days Temporary Duty (R&R) The American Red Cross Club, Southport on or about 20 October 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #99 dated 19 September 1943.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #104 dated 25 September 1943.
  • Ditched, and entire crew rescued on 1 December 1943 mission to Solingen, Germany; no MACR.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Price, William Merriman, III⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Coleman, Lee Browning⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Harvey, Harry Blakely, Jr⇗NavigatorINT
2nd Lt. Arquette, Leroy Arthur⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Smith, Robert Eugene⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Beaty, Earl Richard⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Griffin, Daniel (NMI)⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Grant, Ralph GilbertTail GunnerCT
SGT. Leigh, James Carl⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 25 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
20⇗ 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF West Malling, Kent, due to low fuel. Returned to Station 106 at 1530 hours. Flak hole in left elevator.
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ditched in the English Channel Near Hope Cove, Knightsbridge, Devon (about 15 miles SE of Plymouth), after being damaged by enemy aircraft; crew rescued by a fishing boat; Leigh was injured and hospitalized in Hope Cove until 2 October; no MACR; all returned to duty.
Sortie Report⇗
26⇗ 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑29703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
27⇗ 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑29987⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Dropped 52,000 Code #5s 'nickles' over target.
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑29987⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back, the right waist gunner "could not stand altitude."
Sortie Report⇗
30⇗ 9 October 1943 Target: Aircraft Factories
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑29987⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
32⇗ 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑3037⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Crew bailed out near Deenethorpe on return; the aircraft crash-landed near Corby, UK.
Sortie Report⇗
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39796⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ditched off Portsmouth, entire crew rescued; no MACR.
Sortie Report⇗
51⇗ 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3087⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
52⇗ 11 January 1944 Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑29651⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
53⇗ 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Tail Gunner 41‑24578⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3087⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group. After losing the formation in clouds, continued mission with the 303rd BG.
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Deenethorpe on return.
Sortie Report⇗
62⇗ 11 February 1944 Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry)
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Assumed position of high Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑38112⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, Lead Squadron, Lead Group. During assembly, forced out of the 41st Combat Wing while avoiding collision wih another aircraft; joined the 41st Composite Wing and completed the mission.
Sortie Report⇗
71⇗ 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑37801⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group deputy, 40th Composite Combat Wing. Returned to base after group leader abandoned attempt to join assigned combat wing.
Sortie Report⇗
73⇗ 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑37801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy.
Sortie Report⇗

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