Ralph Emerson DeWitt was born on January 31, 1917, in Euclid, Polk County, Minnesota. He was the son of Seymour Ashley DeWitt and Ruth Elizabeth Hazzard DeWitt. He was married to Delorse Iona Mayer DeWitt. He served in the 20th Bombardment Squadron, 2nd Bomber Group, as a Sergeant and Waist Gunner of B-17 #42-107118 nicknamed 'Snafuperman' during World War II.

On August 29, 1944, the 15th Air Force dispatched the 2nd Bomb Group toward the Moravská Ostrava industrial and fuel complex (present-day Ostrava, Czech Republic) on what the Group designated Mission 263. Over the White Carpathian Mountains near the Czech–Slovak border, a large force of German fighters struck the rear formation, destroying the entire 20th Bomb Squadron in a fierce and rapid engagement now remembered as the Battle over the White Carpathians, which resulted in 41 American airmen killed in action, with 28 initially buried in a mass grave at Slavičín and others taken prisoner. Among the aircraft lost was “Snafuperman” (42-107118), a B-17G that came under intense fighter attack. Its No. 1 engine caught fire, the No. 2 supercharger failed, and the No. 3 engine was knocked out, leaving the bomber fatally crippled. It ultimately crashed between Metylovice and Frýdek-Místek in what is now the Czech Republic, resulting in two fatalities and eight crew members taken prisoner.

Sgt DeWitt was captured and taken as a prisoner of war at Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow, Pomerania, Prussia. He ended his military service as a Staff Sergeant. He died on November 14, 1996, and is now buried in the Twelve Mile Grove Cemetery, Pecatonica, Winnebago County, Illinois, USA.

Source of information: b17flyingfortress.de, www.findagrave.com, aad.archives.gov