Ralph E Austin
Military
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UPL 35252
Clarendon G. Richert, 2d Lieutenant and crew of a B-17 bomber in the 384th Bombardment Group at Grafton Underwood Air Base in England around June 1944. Clarendon is in the second row third from the left. I believe this crew is Dad's original crew and the plane is the "Little Bill" shot down over Germany in late 1944. Dad was held back for training to be a lead navigator the day the plane and crew were shot down. There were at least two survivors who were prisoners of war including the replacement navigator. I believe the loss of the crew he had trained with and not knowing that anyone had survived until after the war had a great effect on Dad who was only twenty years old at the time.
Identification of crew members is as follows:
Standing, left-to-right: Franklin G. Oosterhof (CP), William V. Henderson (P), Clarendon G. Richert (N), John T. Brenner (B).
Kneeling, Left to Right: Buddy L. Owens (RO); Milton Tobman (TG); William M. Rodgers (TT); Ralph E. Austin (FG)
Identification of crew members is as follows:
Standing, left-to-right: Franklin G. Oosterhof (CP), William V. Henderson (P), Clarendon G. Richert (N), John T. Brenner (B).
Kneeling, Left to Right: Buddy L. Owens (RO); Milton Tobman (TG); William M. Rodgers (TT); Ralph E. Austin (FG)
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19115783 / O-761936
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
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Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…