Hughes, Ralph B

Individual Personnel Data
Name Hughes, Ralph B   ‡
⇗
Rank Corporal / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 18242792   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #239 dated 5 December 1944, effective 5 December 1944.
  • Transferred to the 385th Bomb group for return to Zone of the Interior (ZOI), per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report (reference to 1st Air Division Special Orders #176 EXTRACT) dated 26 June 1945, effective 28 June 1945.
Duty Tail Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 28 June 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • On the 26 February 1945 mission to Berlin, the crew was reported missing on MACR 12760. Their aircraft had a run-away prop and lost oxygen at 32,000 ft, possibly due to flak. They made a wheels-up forced landing in Rawa Ruska, Poland. The crew were met by Russians (allies at that time) and taken to Lvov, Poland for two weeks until 'rescued' by a U.S. Salvage crew in a stripped-down B-17, who flew them to Poltve [Poltava?], Russia. ATC returned them to Grafton Underwood via Tehran, Iran, Athens, Greece, Cairo, Eqypt, Tunisia, Naples, Italy and Brighton, England.
  • Promoted to Sergeant effective 10 December 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #242 dated 10 December 1944.
  • MOS changed from MOS 611 to MOS 612 per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 6 May 1945.
  • Appointed Staff Sergeant effective 9 May 1945 per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 10 May 1945.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 12760⇓ (2.688 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. MacDonald, Ranald Hugh, III⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Jones, Robert McCord, "Mack"⇗Co-pilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Carr, Robert John⇗NavigatorTR
2nd Lt. Slachetka, Henry Joseph⇗BombardierCT
CPL. Hilliard, Donald Ervin⇗Radio Operator / GunnerTR
CPL. Cunningham, John F⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerFCMEW
CPL. Holmes, Edwin Lamar⇗Ball Turret GunnerTBD
CPL. Hughes, Ralph BTail GunnerCT
CPL. Casagrande, Mario Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 15 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
240⇗ 18 December 1944 Target: Road Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Gemünd, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102518⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
241⇗ 19 December 1944 Target: Railway Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Glaadt, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑37917⇗ Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off
Did not take off due to weather which deteriorated after lead aircraft took off.
Sortie Report⇗
242⇗ 23 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Ehrang, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑102518⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Castle Camps, Cambs., due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
244⇗ 27 December 1944 Target: Bridge (Tactical)
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenahr, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑32106⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
245⇗ 28 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brühl, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38678⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
246⇗ 30 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Limburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38823⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
254⇗ 10 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bonn, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38673⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back due to personnel illness (Hughes).
Sortie Report⇗
272⇗ 23 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Plauen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8408⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire.
Sortie Report⇗
274⇗ 25 February 1945 Target: Tank & Submarine Engine Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Friedrichshafen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8679⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron. Landed away at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
275⇗ 26 February 1945 Target: Schlesicher Railroad Station (Bahnhof)
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38823⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Damaged by flak near the I.P.; at 1158 one engine was feathered; at 1230 hrs #2 and #4 engines were out, and aircraft was under control, headed toward Russia. MACR 12760
Sortie Report⇗
305⇗ 6 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (Visual Primary)
Type: Transportation
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑38994⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
306⇗ 7 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Plant
Type: Military
Location: Hitzacker, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
307⇗ 9 April 1945 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑37917⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
308⇗ 10 April 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot Workshop Area
Type: Military
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
309⇗ 11 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Freiham, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8679⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed at RAF Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, on return due to low fuel; returned to base after refuelling.
Sortie Report⇗
310⇗ 14 April 1945 Target: Gun Battery
Type: Military
Location: Royan (Bordeaux), France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
311⇗ 15 April 1945 Target: Flak guns at Pointe de Suzac
Type: Military
Location: Royan, France 		Tail Gunner 43‑38839⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗

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