Lentz Ralph Henry, Jr.

Name:

Ralph Henry, Jr. Lentz

Rank:

First Lieutenant

Serial Number:

O-707285

Unit:

603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group

Date of Death:

1945-01-23

State:

Pennsylvania

Cemetery:

Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Ličge, Ličge, Belgium

Plot:

A

Row:

19

Grave:

1

Decoration:

Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

Ralph Henry Lentz Jr. was born on January 23, 1922, in Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Ralph Henry Lentz Sr. and Kathryn L. Schott Lentz. He served in the 603rd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Navigator of B-17 #44-8224 during World War II.

On January 23, 1945, during a bombing mission over Neuss, Germany, the aircraft was struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed near Heerde, the Netherlands. A direct hit to the right wing caused it to break off, sending the aircraft into an uncontrolled descent. It was last seen entering a split-S maneuver before disappearing into the clouds. Of the ten crew members aboard, nine were killed in action, while the pilot survived and was taken as a prisoner of war.

1Lt Lentz was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Ličge, Ličge, Belgium. Ralph H. Lentz's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 1 (left), on Butterfly 2, in the top right wing (section B).

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