Rubie (Ruby) R. Mass was born at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois on May 29, 1920. His Hebrew name is Reuven, and the 1940 U.S. Census lists him as Reuben. His name is Rubie R. Mass in military records, and Ruby Mass on his grave marker. His parents were Sam Mass (abt 1883 – 8 Dec 1945), who was born at Berdichev, Ukraine, Russia; and Rose (Cohen) Mass (abt 1894 – 27 Apr 1957), who was born in Russia. He had a brother, Max Mass (18 Jul 1918 – 5 May 1982), who was born at Chicago, Illinois and died at Los Angeles County, California. The family home was at 3328 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. In 1940 Sam Mass was a self-employed painter, and Max Mass was an errand boy for a jewelry manufacturing company. Ruby Mass completed one year of college, and worked as a stock and shipping clerk. He was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Chicago, Illinois on May 5, 1942.
He completed Army Air Forces pilot training in Class 43-J and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on November 3, 1943. He was then assigned as copilot on the heavy bomber crew of Lt William J. Mowat in the 837th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group. The Mowat crew completed B-24 crew training with the 487th Bomb Group at Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico, and deployed with the Group to England in March 1944. The 487th Bomb Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.
After arrival in England Lt Mass was assigned as copilot on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Arthur D. Erwin, in the 838th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group.
Lt Mass and seven of his crewmates were killed in action on June 20, 1944 when their aircraft, B-24H 42-95217, was shot down by flak on the mission to bomb an oil refinery at Misburg near Hannover, Germany. Just after bombs away, the aircraft received a direct flak hit which tore off the tail. The aircraft spun to the ground in flames and crashed five kilometers north of Hannover. The bodies of eight crew members were found in the wreckage. The dead were buried initially at the military cemetery in Hannover-Limmer. S/Sgt Ross, the tail gunner, was able to bail out and landed at Mecklenheide near Hannover. He was captured there and became a prisoner of war.
The remains of Lt Mass were returned to the United States and reinterred at Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois in 1949.
B-24H 42-95217 crew:
• Erwin, Arthur D – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Mass, Rubie R – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Mackie, Thomas S – 2/Lt – Bombardier – KIA
• Musser, Elmer G – S/Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Boyd, Leslie L – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Lumpkin, Claude L – S/Sgt – Nose Turret Gunner – KIA
• Kussy Jr, Leroy S – Sgt – Top Turret Gunner – KIA
• Rosenberger, Jearold F – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – KIA
• Ross, Albert L – S/Sgt – Tail Turret Gunner – POW
Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com