Hess Ralph C.

Name:

Ralph C. Hess

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

39195550

Unit:

601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-07-08

State:

Washington

Cemetery:

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England

Plot:

A

Row:

5

Grave:

6

Decoration:

Air Medal, Purple Heart

Comments:

Ralph C. Hess was born in Washington. He served in the 601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner of B-17 #42-107096 during World War II.

On July 8, 1944, during a mission targeting V-1 "Noball" launch sites near Humieres, France, the aircraft sustained severe damage from German anti-aircraft fire (flak) before reaching its target. Despite the damage, the crew managed to drop their bombs. However, the aircraft was critically damaged and was forced to ditch into the English Channel off the coast of France. Of the nine crew members aboard, only two survived.

SSgt Hess was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England. Ralph C. Hess' name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 21, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information:www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org