Dufour, Ralph Kenneth

Individual Personnel Data
Name Dufour, Ralph Kenneth   ‡
⇗
Rank Corporal / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 12133510   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #56 dated 13 March 1945, effective 13 March 1945.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report (Paragraph 3, Special Orders #176, 1st Air Division) - to 34th Bomb Group, effective 28 June 1945.
Duty Flexible Gunner / Ball Turret Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 28 June 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 25 May 1921
  • Promoted to Sergeant effective 17 March 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #59 dated 17 March 1945.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant effective 18 April 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #84 dated 18 April 1945.
  • Reclassified from MOS 611 to MOS 612 effective 19 April 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #85 dated 19 April 1945.
  • Placed on Indefinite Detached Service at Y-17, Marseilles/Istres, France effective on or about 24 May 1945 per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 24 May 1945.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Montgomery, Robert W⇗PilotFCMEW
2nd Lt. Tarro, John Peter⇗Co-pilotKIS
2nd Lt. Goldsmith, Alan E⇗NavigatorFCMEW
2nd Lt. Brockett, Wendell Greene⇗BombardierTR
CPL. O'Brien, Robert E⇗Radio Operator / GunnerTBD
S/SGT. Knapp, Thomas Henry⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerTR
SGT. Baird, Robert Samuel⇗Ball Turret GunnerFCMEW
S/SGT. Glass, Lois Vernon⇗Tail GunnerCT
CPL. Dufour, Ralph KennethFlexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 14 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
295⇗ 23 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gladbeck, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
296⇗ 24 March 1945 Target: Vechta Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Vechta, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
298⇗ 26 March 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6892⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
299⇗ 28 March 1945 Target: Berlin/Spandau Motor Transport Works
Type: Industry
Location: Spandau (Berlin), Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
300⇗ 30 March 1945 Target: Deutsche Schiff- u. Maschinenbau A.G. (DESCHIMAG)
Submarine and Warship Yard
Machine Shop
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
301⇗ 31 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑39203⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
302⇗ 3 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
307⇗ 9 April 1945 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back prior to target when #2 engine started smoking. Peeled off. made 180° turn and headed back for England. The aircraft was under control and apparently landed somewhere in allied territory.
Sortie Report⇗
310⇗ 14 April 1945 Target: Gun Battery
Type: Military
Location: Royan (Bordeaux), France 		Ball Turret 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
311⇗ 15 April 1945 Target: Flak guns at Pointe de Suzac
Type: Military
Location: Royan, France 		Ball Turret 43‑38974⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
312⇗ 16 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Regensburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6892⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
313⇗ 17 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Dresden, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38974⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
314⇗ 19 April 1945 Target: Railroad Station & Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Elsterwerda, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
316⇗ 25 April 1945 Target: Skoda Armament Works
Type: Industry
Location: Pilsen / Plzeň, Czechoslovakia 		Ball Turret 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗

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