Menu
  • Abous us
  • Search database
  • Resources
  • Donate
  • Faq

Workman Ralph Jay "Bud"

Monuments

B-17 42-38009 Plaques

 

Name:
Ralph Jay "Bud" Workman
Rank:
Sergeant
Serial Number:
16088167
Unit:
534th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomb Group
Date of Death:
1960-11-04
State:
Michigan
Cemetery:
Oakwood Cemetery, Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan
Plot:
30 Plat I
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Comments:

Ralph Jay "Bud" Workman was born on February 10, 1922, in Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan. He was the son of Jacob Ralph Workman and Wilhelmina DeLong Workman. He graduated from Muskegon High Schoo and was employed at Continental Motors Corp. until enlisting in the Army Air Force on November 18, 1942.

Ralph served in the 534th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on the B-17 #42-38009 during World War II.

On June 15, 1944, his crew took off from Station 167 airfield in Ridgewell, England, at 05:00H to bomb the airfield in Bordeaux-Mérignac, France. At 08:09H, their plane was shot down by flak, and fortunately, the whole crew was able to evacuate, and all members survived. Sgt Workman landed northeast of Bazas.

Workman died on the night of November 4, 1960, at the age of 38, in Bibb County, Georgia. He was killed instantly and his wife, brother, and sister-in-law were critically injured when their car was struck head-on by a drunken driver near Macon. He is now buried in the Oakwood Cemetery, Muskegon, Muskegon County, Michigan, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net