Rhodes Ralend Edwin

Name:

Ralend Edwin Rhodes

Rank:

Technical Sergeant

Serial Number:

19055262

Unit:

863rd Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group (Heavy)

Date of Death:

1945-01-13

State:

Montana

Cemetery:

Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France

Plot:

C

Row:

27

Grave:

71

Decoration:

Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Comments:

Ralend Edwin Rhodes was born on February 11, 1920, in Viborg, South Dakota. He was the son of Robert Ralph Rhodes and Ingeborg Astrid Hansen Rhodes.

Ralend served in the 863rd Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner on the B-17G #43-38271 'Big Buster' during World War II. He was Killed in Action on January 13, 1945, when his B-17 was hit by flak and crashed at Bauscheim, Germany.

TSgt Rhodes is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France. His name is listed on the 493rd Bomber Group Honor Roll located in St. Mary the Virgin Church, Clopton, England, but his first name is spelled as Roland.

B-17G #43-38271 'Big Buster' crew:
Norman Lamoreaux, Sam Gordon, Tom Tucker, Ralend Rhodes, Dick Pearce, Irving Weiss, Doug Carlock, Jerome Eaton, Ellsworth Gustafson

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.abmc.gov