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Raymond Edward Wright

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Raymond Edward Wright Veteran

Birth
Death
26 Nov 1943 (aged 22)
Germany
Burial
Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium Add to Map
Plot
Plot C Row 15 Grave 4
Memorial ID
View Source
I have removed the rank from his name above solely for the purpose of making it easier for people to search for his name.

8th Air Force, 44th Bomb Group. 66th Squadron.

SSgt Raymond E. Wright was the Armarrer & Tail Turret Gunner
buried Ardennes, Neupre, Belgium, plot C-15-4

Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Ohio
State of Residence: Ohio

Enlistment Date: 12 Sep 1942
Enlistment State: Ohio
Enlistment City: Cincinnati
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life

Education: 2 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Machine shop and related occupations, n.e.c.
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 68
Weight: 119

War: World War II
Awards: Purple Heart
Title: Staff Sergeant
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Service: U.S. Army Air Forces
Service ID: 35474099
Division: 66th Bomber Squadron, 44th Bomber Group, Heavy
Data Source: World War II Honor Roll

His next-of-kin was listed as his sister,
Mrs. Ruth M. Story,
1119 Queen City Ave.
Cincinnati, OH

The crew departed from the air base at Shipdham, England, and had intended to return there. Their primary target in Brenham, Germany, was an industrial area which was hit with a good pattern. The mission was successful. Weather conditions were quite bad in that it was exceptionally cold, which probably contributed to the collision early in the mission. None of the eleven casualties was caused by enemy action on this mission.

Their plane, Mr. 5 X 5, a B-24-Liberator, had been on a bombing run over Germany and were on their way back to England when the plane was caught up in the prop wash of other planes ahead and forced into a collision with #501. The propellers of #501 were cut and sheared off the entire tail section of Mr. 5 X 5, causing it to crash, apparently into the sea. The plane had shrapnel damage from the bombing raid. Members of the crew of the plane in whose prop wash Mr. 5 X 5 was caught observed 6 parachutes coming out of Mr. 5 X 5. However, all members of the crew were Killed in Action that day. All bodies were recovered. Lt. James G. Cary and crew from the 68th Squadron escaped from the collision and returned to base, but only after succeeding in recovering from their spin at an altitude of only 4,000 feet.


The members of that fateful crew were:

Trolese, Alexander (NMI), pilot, 1st or 2d Lt. (different
reports) (buried in Ardennes (A-36-54)
home: Richmond, CA.

Harper, James A. co-pilot, 2d Lt.
home: Ellwood City, PA. no burial location listed

Marcouiller, Gordon L. navigator, 2d Lt. buried Ardennes
(D-13-7) home: Chicago, IL

Gates, Jack A. Bombadier 2d Lt.
home: Midland, TX & San Antonio, TX

Lt. Jack A. Gates & TSGT Charlie Krauss share a group grave in the Memphis Natinal Cemetery. They were first interred at Neuville-En-Condrez-Belgium and re-interred at Memphis on 4 Oct 1950. Charlie was a T/Sgt. He was the radio operator and gunner. Since he and Jack Gates, the bombadier, are buried together, it is probable that both were in the nose area of the plane.

Ray, Thomas C. Engineer and & top Turret Gunner
SSgt buried Ardennes (D-18-20) home IL

Krauss, Charles E. Radio Operator & Gunner TSgt.
(buried now at Memphis National Cemetery with Jack
Gates) home: Springfield, PA

Appeldorn, Thomas J Belly gunner & ? illegible SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-23-3) home: Huntington, WV

Markus, Edward R. Left Waist Gunner &
Asst. fw gunner SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-37-15) home: Yonkers, NY

Railing, Alton S. Right Waist Gunner &
Asst. Radio Operator SSgt.
no burial location listed: home: Decatur, IN

Wright, Raymond E. Armarrer & Tail Turret Gunner
SSgt. buried Ardennes (C-15-4) home Cincinnati, Ohio

The tail art, Mr. 5X5, (refers to Double 5s rolled with dice in craps and is known as "hard 10" (Ten the hard way--ladies delight or women's best friend..
Also, in radio terminology, Americans wanted an actual rating on the volume and clarity of their transmissions. The standard "Loud and Clear" to an American had to be a "Five by Five" or a "Three by three" depending on the reception. (This information is from Daniel L. Stockton)

If anyone has any additional information, please contact me.
Note, I removed "SSGT" from his name above solely for the purpose of helping people to search for his name.
I have removed the rank from his name above solely for the purpose of making it easier for people to search for his name.

8th Air Force, 44th Bomb Group. 66th Squadron.

SSgt Raymond E. Wright was the Armarrer & Tail Turret Gunner
buried Ardennes, Neupre, Belgium, plot C-15-4

Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Ohio
State of Residence: Ohio

Enlistment Date: 12 Sep 1942
Enlistment State: Ohio
Enlistment City: Cincinnati
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life

Education: 2 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Machine shop and related occupations, n.e.c.
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 68
Weight: 119

War: World War II
Awards: Purple Heart
Title: Staff Sergeant
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Service: U.S. Army Air Forces
Service ID: 35474099
Division: 66th Bomber Squadron, 44th Bomber Group, Heavy
Data Source: World War II Honor Roll

His next-of-kin was listed as his sister,
Mrs. Ruth M. Story,
1119 Queen City Ave.
Cincinnati, OH

The crew departed from the air base at Shipdham, England, and had intended to return there. Their primary target in Brenham, Germany, was an industrial area which was hit with a good pattern. The mission was successful. Weather conditions were quite bad in that it was exceptionally cold, which probably contributed to the collision early in the mission. None of the eleven casualties was caused by enemy action on this mission.

Their plane, Mr. 5 X 5, a B-24-Liberator, had been on a bombing run over Germany and were on their way back to England when the plane was caught up in the prop wash of other planes ahead and forced into a collision with #501. The propellers of #501 were cut and sheared off the entire tail section of Mr. 5 X 5, causing it to crash, apparently into the sea. The plane had shrapnel damage from the bombing raid. Members of the crew of the plane in whose prop wash Mr. 5 X 5 was caught observed 6 parachutes coming out of Mr. 5 X 5. However, all members of the crew were Killed in Action that day. All bodies were recovered. Lt. James G. Cary and crew from the 68th Squadron escaped from the collision and returned to base, but only after succeeding in recovering from their spin at an altitude of only 4,000 feet.


The members of that fateful crew were:

Trolese, Alexander (NMI), pilot, 1st or 2d Lt. (different
reports) (buried in Ardennes (A-36-54)
home: Richmond, CA.

Harper, James A. co-pilot, 2d Lt.
home: Ellwood City, PA. no burial location listed

Marcouiller, Gordon L. navigator, 2d Lt. buried Ardennes
(D-13-7) home: Chicago, IL

Gates, Jack A. Bombadier 2d Lt.
home: Midland, TX & San Antonio, TX

Lt. Jack A. Gates & TSGT Charlie Krauss share a group grave in the Memphis Natinal Cemetery. They were first interred at Neuville-En-Condrez-Belgium and re-interred at Memphis on 4 Oct 1950. Charlie was a T/Sgt. He was the radio operator and gunner. Since he and Jack Gates, the bombadier, are buried together, it is probable that both were in the nose area of the plane.

Ray, Thomas C. Engineer and & top Turret Gunner
SSgt buried Ardennes (D-18-20) home IL

Krauss, Charles E. Radio Operator & Gunner TSgt.
(buried now at Memphis National Cemetery with Jack
Gates) home: Springfield, PA

Appeldorn, Thomas J Belly gunner & ? illegible SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-23-3) home: Huntington, WV

Markus, Edward R. Left Waist Gunner &
Asst. fw gunner SSgt.
buried Ardennes (A-37-15) home: Yonkers, NY

Railing, Alton S. Right Waist Gunner &
Asst. Radio Operator SSgt.
no burial location listed: home: Decatur, IN

Wright, Raymond E. Armarrer & Tail Turret Gunner
SSgt. buried Ardennes (C-15-4) home Cincinnati, Ohio

The tail art, Mr. 5X5, (refers to Double 5s rolled with dice in craps and is known as "hard 10" (Ten the hard way--ladies delight or women's best friend..
Also, in radio terminology, Americans wanted an actual rating on the volume and clarity of their transmissions. The standard "Loud and Clear" to an American had to be a "Five by Five" or a "Three by three" depending on the reception. (This information is from Daniel L. Stockton)

If anyone has any additional information, please contact me.
Note, I removed "SSGT" from his name above solely for the purpose of helping people to search for his name.

Gravesite Details

Entered the service from Ohio.


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