Ralph Lawrence Hoffman was born in 1921 in San Francisco, California. He served in the 553rd Bomber Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium, as a First Lieutenant and Bombardier on the B26 #41-31889 AN*D during World War II.
On November 5, 1943, their plane took off from Station 164 at Great Dunmow (Little Easton), England on a mission to Marquise, France. The plane was hit by flak, 3 miles southwest of the target at Marquise at around 02:00 PM. The wing was fractured just at the edge of the left engine nacelle, and tail section. Their plane crashed 1 km of Saint Inglevert - 10.5 km southwest of Calais, France. All men aboard were killed in the crash.
1Lt Hoffman is now buried in the Cypress View Mausoleum and Crematory, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA.
B26 #41-31889 aircrew:
Capt Ray Donald Williamson - Pilot
2Lt James Ernest Davis - Co-Pilot
1Lt Ralph Lawrence Hoffman - Bombardier
T/Sgt Robert Daniel Evans - Radio Operator
S/Sgt Jack Paul Brusman - Mechanic/Machine Gunner
Sgt Charles Louis Solomon - Rear Gunner
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net