The 483rd Bomb Group Archive

Serviceman

Ralph F Bates

817thpilot

Play his story on the map built from his record

Army serial number
O-829762
Rank
2LT (27 December 1944), 2LT (26 February 1945), 1LT (25 May 1945), 1LT (18 June 1945)
Hometown
ENDICOTT NY; Endicott NY; Endicott, NY
Also written
Ralph Bates
In the book
Heroes of the 483rd, p. 9
Sources
483bg-record, assoc-roster, heroes-book, macr-crew · service record at 483bg.org

Crews

Missions placed on him

A report lists him aboard, or his crew's history in Heroes of the 483rd dates the mission; the book is cited by page and not reproduced. The rest of his squadron's missions in his window are not placed on him by any document.

Awards

DateAwardGeneral orderRank then
27 December 1944Air Medal51902LT
26 February 1945Air Medal, 1st oak leaf cluster9682LT
25 May 1945Air Medal, 2nd oak leaf cluster34441LT
18 June 1945Silver Star35711LT

From the general orders indexed by the Army Air Corps Library and Museum.

Aboard a lost aircraft

Statements, mentions and histories

Eyewitness statement, page 5 · 22 March 1945
HEADQUARTESS
FOUR EIGHIT THIRD BOVEARDMENT GROUP (H)
office of the Operations Officer
APO 520
6 April 1945.
STATEMENT
On 26 March 1945 this headquarters received TWX stating that
Lt. R.F. BATES, LT. D.A. KALLOCK, LT. D.L. FISCHER, IT. I. JACOBS and
T/Sgt. BREWER had forced-landed near Warsaw and that the rest of the crew
had bailed out 15 miles northwest of Ruhland. The first five listed were
then at Poltava awaiting ATC transport back to Italy 15AF, Hill
?
T-3261). No further information has been received, nor has Lt. BATFS or
any member of his crew returned to duty at this base.
Louis Surth
LOUIS T. SEITH,
Major, Air Corps,
Operations Officer.
N°- 1983
under

National Archives, MACR 13242, page 5 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

Casualty questionnaire, page 7 · 22 March 1945
AFPPA-11
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of crew member:
BATES, Ralph
Pile 13241
Rank:
les LA
Serial number:
0-829762
Position: Crew (Bomber) Plios
Did he bail out? No
Where?
If not, why not?
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane : Bilot
gave US our choice, Bailout two WaNted to
Was he injured?
NO
Where was he when last seen?
Any hearsay information:
Source:
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
Total number of missions of above crew member:
24
Dates and destinations if possible:
6-3661, AF

National Archives, MACR 13242, page 7 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

Casualty questionnaire, page 14 · 22 March 1945
INDIVIDUAL CASUALTY QUESTIONNAIRE
Name of crew member:
BATES, Ralph F.
Pile 33242
Pank:
16
Serial number:
Position: Crew (Bomber)
Did he bail out?
No knowledge.
Where?
No knowledge.
If not, why not?
No knowledge.
Last contact or conversation just prior to or at time of loss of plane:
No knowledge
Was he injured?
No knowledge
Where was he when last seen?
No knowledge
Any hearsay information: When I returned to Atlantic City, In the Ambassador
Hotel I met a S/Sgt. Andreola 817 B Sq. who was flying in number three
position. His ship crashed in Fussia. He said, that Lt. Bates, Kallock
Fischer, Jacobs, and T/Sgt. Brewer were with 1im in Fussia.
Source: S/Sgt. Andreola 817th Bomb Sq. 483 Pomb Group
Any explanation of his fate based in part or wholly on supposition:
Facts
Total number of missions of above crew member:
"o knowledge
Dates and destinations if possible:
No knowledge
6-3861,AF

National Archives, MACR 13242, page 14 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

Know something about him?

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