Rufer Ernest Howard

Monuments

Fallen Bombers in Médoc Information Boards

Fallen Bombers in Médoc Monument

Name:

Ernest Howard Rufer

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-744761

Unit:

339th Bomber Squadron, 96th Bomber Group

Date of Death:

0000-00-00

State:

California

Cemetery:

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Comments:

Ernest Howard Rufer was born on January 21, 1920, in Sherman Oaks, California. He served in the 339th Bomber Squadron, 96th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot on the B-17 #42-37808 'Special Delivery' during World War II.

On January 5, 1944, his crew took off from Station 138 airfield in Snetterton Heath, England, for a mission to bomb the Bordeaux-Mérignac airfield in France. Shot down by fighters at 11:30 AM, they evacuated their plane by parachute. Their aircraft crashed near Lesparre-Medoc, France. Of the crew, five members were captured by the Germans and taken as prisoners. The five remaining members were able to evade the capture. 2Lt Rufer was one of the evadees. He returned to the UK on April 20, 1944.

Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net