Husband of Marjorie Neal who resided in Rawlings, Maryland.
Ralph served as a Staff Sergeant & Ball Turret Gunner on B-24J "Lonesome Lady" #44-40680, 866th Bomber Squadron, 494th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Whitley County, Kentucky prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on July 11, 1940, prior to the war, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the production of bakery products and also as Single, without dependents.
He was married after his enlistment.
B-24J "Lonesome Lady" #44-40680 took off with other B-24's from Yontan Airfield on Okinawa on a bombing mission to strike the Japanese Battleship Haruna docked in the Kure Harbor in Hiroshima Bay, Japan. Kure Habor was known by the Japanese as the Imperial Navy's Harbor.
Their bombing mission was successful and the Haruna was sunk in the harbor. B-24J #44-40680 was, however, hit multiple times by ground anti-aircraft flak and ended up crashing in southern Honshu. Eyewitness believed that every crew member bailed out before it crashed.
Eight of the crew members became POW's.
2nd Lt. Roy M. Pedersen, Jr, who was seen to exit the plane, apparently died either because his parachute didn't open or was killed once he landed by those in the area. His remains, however, were recovered.
The others, except for S/Sgt William E. Abel & S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal, were all taken to the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters, Kempi Tai, in Hiroshima.
S/Sgt Abel was first interned in Kure, Japan where he was when the Atomic Bomb exploded in Hiroshima. He was later transferred to the Tokyo Pow Camp, Shinjuku, Tokyo Bay Area, 35-140 on September 1, 1945. He was released from this POW camp on September 15, 1945.
S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal was interned in the Japanese POW Camp Mukai Shima, Central Honshu, 34-133.
2nd Lt. Cartwright, who was first taken to the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters, Kempi Tai, in Hiroshima, was later transferred to the Tokyo Pow Camp, Branch 2, Kawasaki, Tokyo Bay Area 35-139 on August 1, 1945. He was released from this POW camp on October 29, 1945.
The rest of the crew, except for the above mentioned 3, were in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped.
It is unknown for sure how S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal died. He possibly died of wounds received while parachuting out of his B-24, or was executed after the atomic bomb was dropped.
He was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was originally interred in the Japan, moved to the mausoleum in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was later repatriated here on October 28, 1949.
Service # 15042164
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished from B-24J #44-40680:
Atkinson, Hugh H ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, WA
Ellison, Buford J ~ Sgt, Engineer, TX
Long, John A, Jr ~ Sgt, Nose Gunner, PA
Looper, Durden W ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, AR
Neal, Ralph J ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, KY
Pedersen, Roy M, Jr ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, IA
Ryan, James M ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, NY
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Survivor from B-24J #44-40680:
Abel, William E ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, IL
Cartwright, Thomas C ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, SC
Note: 2nd Lt. Cartwright authored a book about his experience called "A Date with the Lonesome Lady".
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Note: B-24J "Taloa" #44-40716 also crashed during this bombing mission. For more on that crew see:
Bushfield, David A ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, KY
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Previously added to Find A Grave,
source unknown:
Served as a S/Sgt in 866th BS/494th BG on B-24 "Lonesome Lady" # 44-40680 shot down July 28, 1945. Died of Injuries in bombing of Hiroshima August 6, 1945
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Military Information: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force
Ralph served as a Staff Sergeant & Ball Turret Gunner on B-24J "Lonesome Lady" #44-40680, 866th Bomber Squadron, 494th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Whitley County, Kentucky prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on July 11, 1940, prior to the war, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the production of bakery products and also as Single, without dependents.
He was married after his enlistment.
B-24J "Lonesome Lady" #44-40680 took off with other B-24's from Yontan Airfield on Okinawa on a bombing mission to strike the Japanese Battleship Haruna docked in the Kure Harbor in Hiroshima Bay, Japan. Kure Habor was known by the Japanese as the Imperial Navy's Harbor.
Their bombing mission was successful and the Haruna was sunk in the harbor. B-24J #44-40680 was, however, hit multiple times by ground anti-aircraft flak and ended up crashing in southern Honshu. Eyewitness believed that every crew member bailed out before it crashed.
Eight of the crew members became POW's.
2nd Lt. Roy M. Pedersen, Jr, who was seen to exit the plane, apparently died either because his parachute didn't open or was killed once he landed by those in the area. His remains, however, were recovered.
The others, except for S/Sgt William E. Abel & S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal, were all taken to the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters, Kempi Tai, in Hiroshima.
S/Sgt Abel was first interned in Kure, Japan where he was when the Atomic Bomb exploded in Hiroshima. He was later transferred to the Tokyo Pow Camp, Shinjuku, Tokyo Bay Area, 35-140 on September 1, 1945. He was released from this POW camp on September 15, 1945.
S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal was interned in the Japanese POW Camp Mukai Shima, Central Honshu, 34-133.
2nd Lt. Cartwright, who was first taken to the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters, Kempi Tai, in Hiroshima, was later transferred to the Tokyo Pow Camp, Branch 2, Kawasaki, Tokyo Bay Area 35-139 on August 1, 1945. He was released from this POW camp on October 29, 1945.
The rest of the crew, except for the above mentioned 3, were in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped.
It is unknown for sure how S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal died. He possibly died of wounds received while parachuting out of his B-24, or was executed after the atomic bomb was dropped.
He was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was originally interred in the Japan, moved to the mausoleum in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was later repatriated here on October 28, 1949.
Service # 15042164
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished from B-24J #44-40680:
Atkinson, Hugh H ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, WA
Ellison, Buford J ~ Sgt, Engineer, TX
Long, John A, Jr ~ Sgt, Nose Gunner, PA
Looper, Durden W ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, AR
Neal, Ralph J ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, KY
Pedersen, Roy M, Jr ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, IA
Ryan, James M ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, NY
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Survivor from B-24J #44-40680:
Abel, William E ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, IL
Cartwright, Thomas C ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, SC
Note: 2nd Lt. Cartwright authored a book about his experience called "A Date with the Lonesome Lady".
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Note: B-24J "Taloa" #44-40716 also crashed during this bombing mission. For more on that crew see:
Bushfield, David A ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, KY
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Previously added to Find A Grave,
source unknown:
Served as a S/Sgt in 866th BS/494th BG on B-24 "Lonesome Lady" # 44-40680 shot down July 28, 1945. Died of Injuries in bombing of Hiroshima August 6, 1945
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Military Information: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force
Husband of Marjorie Neal who resided in Rawlings, Maryland.
Ralph served as a Staff Sergeant & Ball Turret Gunner on B-24J "Lonesome Lady" #44-40680, 866th Bomber Squadron, 494th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Whitley County, Kentucky prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on July 11, 1940, prior to the war, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the production of bakery products and also as Single, without dependents.
He was married after his enlistment.
B-24J "Lonesome Lady" #44-40680 took off with other B-24's from Yontan Airfield on Okinawa on a bombing mission to strike the Japanese Battleship Haruna docked in the Kure Harbor in Hiroshima Bay, Japan. Kure Habor was known by the Japanese as the Imperial Navy's Harbor.
Their bombing mission was successful and the Haruna was sunk in the harbor. B-24J #44-40680 was, however, hit multiple times by ground anti-aircraft flak and ended up crashing in southern Honshu. Eyewitness believed that every crew member bailed out before it crashed.
Eight of the crew members became POW's.
2nd Lt. Roy M. Pedersen, Jr, who was seen to exit the plane, apparently died either because his parachute didn't open or was killed once he landed by those in the area. His remains, however, were recovered.
The others, except for S/Sgt William E. Abel & S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal, were all taken to the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters, Kempi Tai, in Hiroshima.
S/Sgt Abel was first interned in Kure, Japan where he was when the Atomic Bomb exploded in Hiroshima. He was later transferred to the Tokyo Pow Camp, Shinjuku, Tokyo Bay Area, 35-140 on September 1, 1945. He was released from this POW camp on September 15, 1945.
S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal was interned in the Japanese POW Camp Mukai Shima, Central Honshu, 34-133.
2nd Lt. Cartwright, who was first taken to the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters, Kempi Tai, in Hiroshima, was later transferred to the Tokyo Pow Camp, Branch 2, Kawasaki, Tokyo Bay Area 35-139 on August 1, 1945. He was released from this POW camp on October 29, 1945.
The rest of the crew, except for the above mentioned 3, were in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped.
It is unknown for sure how S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal died. He possibly died of wounds received while parachuting out of his B-24, or was executed after the atomic bomb was dropped.
He was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was originally interred in the Japan, moved to the mausoleum in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was later repatriated here on October 28, 1949.
Service # 15042164
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished from B-24J #44-40680:
Atkinson, Hugh H ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, WA
Ellison, Buford J ~ Sgt, Engineer, TX
Long, John A, Jr ~ Sgt, Nose Gunner, PA
Looper, Durden W ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, AR
Neal, Ralph J ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, KY
Pedersen, Roy M, Jr ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, IA
Ryan, James M ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, NY
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Survivor from B-24J #44-40680:
Abel, William E ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, IL
Cartwright, Thomas C ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, SC
Note: 2nd Lt. Cartwright authored a book about his experience called "A Date with the Lonesome Lady".
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Note: B-24J "Taloa" #44-40716 also crashed during this bombing mission. For more on that crew see:
Bushfield, David A ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, KY
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Previously added to Find A Grave,
source unknown:
Served as a S/Sgt in 866th BS/494th BG on B-24 "Lonesome Lady" # 44-40680 shot down July 28, 1945. Died of Injuries in bombing of Hiroshima August 6, 1945
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Military Information: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force
Ralph served as a Staff Sergeant & Ball Turret Gunner on B-24J "Lonesome Lady" #44-40680, 866th Bomber Squadron, 494th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Whitley County, Kentucky prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on July 11, 1940, prior to the war, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the production of bakery products and also as Single, without dependents.
He was married after his enlistment.
B-24J "Lonesome Lady" #44-40680 took off with other B-24's from Yontan Airfield on Okinawa on a bombing mission to strike the Japanese Battleship Haruna docked in the Kure Harbor in Hiroshima Bay, Japan. Kure Habor was known by the Japanese as the Imperial Navy's Harbor.
Their bombing mission was successful and the Haruna was sunk in the harbor. B-24J #44-40680 was, however, hit multiple times by ground anti-aircraft flak and ended up crashing in southern Honshu. Eyewitness believed that every crew member bailed out before it crashed.
Eight of the crew members became POW's.
2nd Lt. Roy M. Pedersen, Jr, who was seen to exit the plane, apparently died either because his parachute didn't open or was killed once he landed by those in the area. His remains, however, were recovered.
The others, except for S/Sgt William E. Abel & S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal, were all taken to the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters, Kempi Tai, in Hiroshima.
S/Sgt Abel was first interned in Kure, Japan where he was when the Atomic Bomb exploded in Hiroshima. He was later transferred to the Tokyo Pow Camp, Shinjuku, Tokyo Bay Area, 35-140 on September 1, 1945. He was released from this POW camp on September 15, 1945.
S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal was interned in the Japanese POW Camp Mukai Shima, Central Honshu, 34-133.
2nd Lt. Cartwright, who was first taken to the Chugoku Military Police Headquarters, Kempi Tai, in Hiroshima, was later transferred to the Tokyo Pow Camp, Branch 2, Kawasaki, Tokyo Bay Area 35-139 on August 1, 1945. He was released from this POW camp on October 29, 1945.
The rest of the crew, except for the above mentioned 3, were in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped.
It is unknown for sure how S/Sgt Ralph J. Neal died. He possibly died of wounds received while parachuting out of his B-24, or was executed after the atomic bomb was dropped.
He was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was originally interred in the Japan, moved to the mausoleum in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was later repatriated here on October 28, 1949.
Service # 15042164
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished from B-24J #44-40680:
Atkinson, Hugh H ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, WA
Ellison, Buford J ~ Sgt, Engineer, TX
Long, John A, Jr ~ Sgt, Nose Gunner, PA
Looper, Durden W ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, AR
Neal, Ralph J ~ S/Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, KY
Pedersen, Roy M, Jr ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, IA
Ryan, James M ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, NY
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Survivor from B-24J #44-40680:
Abel, William E ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, IL
Cartwright, Thomas C ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, SC
Note: 2nd Lt. Cartwright authored a book about his experience called "A Date with the Lonesome Lady".
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Note: B-24J "Taloa" #44-40716 also crashed during this bombing mission. For more on that crew see:
Bushfield, David A ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, KY
Bio & Crew Report by:
Russell S. "Russ" Pickett
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Previously added to Find A Grave,
source unknown:
Served as a S/Sgt in 866th BS/494th BG on B-24 "Lonesome Lady" # 44-40680 shot down July 28, 1945. Died of Injuries in bombing of Hiroshima August 6, 1945
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Military Information: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Force
Inscription
SSGT, 494 AAF BOMB GROUP WORLD WAR II
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