Ralph was a friend of many years, a B-24 pilot, believe the 445thBG, who was shot down over Germany in Sept 1944 and spent the remainder of the war in a POW camp. He rarely would talk about his military time and has now passed on. His two sons have no info either. Can anyone advise me how to gather details about his military time as I want to submit a simple biography for the "Academy Of Model Aviation" archives. Ralph was a well known modeler who designed and had published a number of his original designs during the many years he had modeling as his hobby.

Lt. Ralph H. Pearson was shot down on 27 Sept 1944 while flying 44-10497 of the 445th Bomb Group, 700th Squadron. They were downed by German fighters and crashed at Erfurt, Germany. There were 3 KIA and 6 POWs. The MACR 9384 covers this AC and crew and is available free of charge by contacting Lynn.Gamma@MAXWELL.AF.MIL. This report may give you some good information about the downing and will have the crew list. You may be able to contact some of the survivors if they are still living at this time. I can furnish the names if you desire.

Go to the second page of this forum and you will see a post regarding Website, Association and Reunions. There will be a number of contacts and links available about the 445th Bomb Group. In my reference I see that there were 25 AC and crews lost on this date, an exceptionally high number for a mission. Surely the history of the group will reflect this.

The next post is about a history of the group that the webmaster is in the process of reprinting and may have finished by now. It should be worth reading. Hope this is of some help.

Vic Walzel, brother of 1st Lt Leland H. Walzel, bombardier with the 93rd Bomb Group, 330th Squadron. KIA 6 March 1944 on his 25th mission.
www.lelandwalzel.150m.com

According to 445th BG records, Ralph Pearson was shot down on his 30th mission during the Kassel mission of 27 Sept 44. It will take some time, but I can put together a list of the targets he flew against. He flew his first mission on 29 Jun 44 and had many back-to-back missions, so he must have been one of the more experienced pilots.

Mike Simpson
Webmaster & Unit Historian
445th Bomb Group (Heavy)
www.445bg.org
VP, 445th BG, Kassel Mission Historical Society
www.Kasselmission.com

Thanks to you two fellows for the prompt replies...that is more info than I have been able to gather in a long time. Anything else will certainly be appreciated and I plan to write up a simple record so that his two sons will have something of his war record to remember him by.
Bill Creighton

Just wanted all to know I have located one of Ralph's crew, Harry Tachovsky, from Pennsylvania, who kindly has sent me a copy of the Kassel Mission Report, several other pieces of information, and lastly, and very important to me, a copy of the crew photo! Tried to include a copy here but could not figure out how to do it.

I never realized how dedicated you fellows are, not only back then when your lives were on the line every day, but even 60 years later when you take the time to provide such desired information.

Thanks to all, and still seeking anything else that might turn up regarding Ralph, his crew or details on 44-10497!

Bill Creighton (Busconv)

Hi,
 
I hope you are still using the same email address, as 4 years have passed since you first posted asking about Ralph Pearson. We have quite a few pictures of the Pearson crew if you are interested. He is quite a figure in the Kassel Mission saga.

Linda Alice Dewey, President
Kassel Mission Historical Society
http://kasselmission.com

Have sent you a separate email and am most thankful for any further information about my friend Ralph.  I did prepare material and sent it to his boys but was astonished by the lack of any response or further interest.  Anything new would mean a lot to me and I would add it to the biography I have submitted to an organization we both enjoyed who has been gathering infomation about members who have had unusual moments in their lives...Ralph certainly qualified for that.
Regards....busconv....Bill Creighton

Bill:
 
I, too, was surprised at your words of their lack of interest.  I guess that the way some folks are.  I got interested in the 445th because I wanted to learn more about my dad's service during the war.  After meeting a couple of the "old guys", I thought a web site would be appropriate to honor what they did.  Some people have different callings.
 
It will take a little time, but I'll put together a little synopsis of Ralph Learson's missions with the 445th and send you a copy.  It will be a .PDF file that you could have printed out if you wanted a hardcopy.

Mike Simpson
Webmaster & Unit Historian
445th Bomb Group (Heavy)
www.445bg.org
VP, 445th BG, Kassel Mission Historical Society
www.Kasselmission.com

Jinglelady


Hi,

I hope you are still using the same email address, as 4 years have passed since you first posted asking about Ralph Pearson. We have quite a few pictures of the Pearson crew if you are interested. He is quite a figure in the Kassel Mission saga.

Linda...I believe I sent you an email on this but seem to have lost it.  Certainly would appreciate copies of "quite a few pictures of the Pearson crew"....would love to have any and all info on him, his crew, or details of his involvement in the Kassel Mission.  I do know he was shot down that day and spent the rest of the war at Stalag Luft 1.  Appreciate your keeping my interest alive....Bill Creighton

Mike.Simpson


Bill:

I, too, was surprised at your words of their lack of interest.  I guess that the way some folks are.  I got interested in the 445th because I wanted to learn more about my dad's service during the war.  After meeting a couple of the "old guys", I thought a web site would be appropriate to honor what they did.  Some people have different callings.

It will take a little time, but I'll put together a little synopsis of Ralph Learson's missions with the 445th and send you a copy.  It will be a .PDF file that you could have printed out if you wanted a hardcopy.

Mike...sure do appreciate your offer and the dedication you and others have for the history of an important time in our lives....Bill Creighton

Bill:

Ralph H. Pearson was indeed a pilot in the 445th Bomb Group.  He flew a total of 30 missions between June 29th, 1944 and September 27th, 1944 when he was shot down on the Kassel Mission.  I can get you an outline of the missions he flew while he was with the 445th - dates and target location, but it will take some time to put together.  The Kassel Mission Historical Society (www.KasselMission.com) has a great deal of information on the Kassel Mission and the on-going investigation as to the facts behind the mission.

I will be attending the 8th Air Force Historical Society Reunion in Savannah, GA starting this weekend and all of next week where we are dedicating a new plaque in honor of the men who flew on the Kassel Mission.  Once I get back, I should be able to get you the mission list.

If his sons would be interested in a detailed, personalized mission history, I do prepare those for crew members and the relatives.  They can email me directly at 445BG@cox.net for pricing information.

Mike Simpson
Webmaster & Unit Historian
445th Bomb Group (Heavy)
www.445bg.org
VP, 445th BG, Kassel Mission Historical Society
www.Kasselmission.com

Mike.Simpson


Bill:

Ralph H. Pearson was indeed a pilot in the 445th Bomb Group.  He flew a total of 30 missions between June 29th, 1944 and September 27th, 1944 when he was shot down on the Kassel Mission.  I can get you an outline of the missions he flew while he was with the 445th - dates and target location, but it will take some time to put together.  The Kassel Mission Historical Society (www.KasselMission.com) has a great deal of information on the Kassel Mission and the on-going investigation as to the facts behind the mission.

I will be attending the 8th Air Force Historical Society Reunion in Savannah, GA starting this weekend and all of next week where we are dedicating a new plaque in honor of the men who flew on the Kassel Mission.  Once I get back, I should be able to get you the mission list.

If his sons would be interested in a detailed, personalized mission history, I do prepare those for crew members and the relatives.  They can email me directly at 445BG@cox.net for pricing information.

Mike...I appreciate the above but doubt if the sons will even take the time to contact you...as I told you some time ago they never even acknowledged the report I put together in 2007.  I know they got them because they were sent Certified Mail, Return Receipt and I got ackowledgement of delivery from the USPS.   I certainly would appreciate anything you can send as Ralph was my best friend for many years.  Regards...Bill Creighton