Ernest Harold Ratliff

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-17207.jpeg UPL 17207 Crew #585
Howard W. Greiner Crew
466th BG - 785th BS

Standing Left to Right: Ernest Ratliff (TG), Frank Korycanek (R/O), Andrew Swartz (NG), Richard Maki (WG/NG), John Spissinger (FE), Robert Shaddy (BTG/RWG),

Sitting Left to Right: Henry E. Holm (N), Howard W. Greiner (P), Edmund B. Knoll (CP), Ballinger (B)

This crew was shot down on their 2nd mission, 2 March 1945. Knoll, Swartz, Shaddy and Ratliff were all KIA. 466th Bomb Group collection

Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom

Object Number - UPL 17207 - Crew #585 Howard W. Greiner Crew 466th BG - 785th BS Standing Left to Right: Ernest Ratliff (TG), Frank Korycanek (R/O), Andrew Swartz (NG),...

Killed in Action (KIA) at Tennenheide in B-24 #42-51273.

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37483851
  • Highest Rank: Technician Fourth Grade
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Sanford, Florida, USA 11 December 1924

Enlisted

Starke, FL 32091, USA 14 September 1943 Camp Blanding

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Dümmer, Germany 2 March 1945 Possible flak damage over Magdeburg caused the Greiner a/c to lag behind the formation. It was attacked by Fw-190's near Dummer Lake and exploded. Ratliff and three of his crewmates were KIA. The aircraft was B-24J-1-DT #42-51273 2U-N+

Buried

Sanford, FL, USA Evergreen Cemetery Sanford Seminole County Florida, USA Plot: Section A, Lot 2, Space 6
Seminole County, FL, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Alissa Worden - niece

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

http://www.ww2enlistment.org/index.php?page=directory&rec=5024563
"Attlebridge Arsenal" - Brassfield & Wassom - page 114

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12849 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Ernest Harold Ratliff: Gallery (2 items)