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Major Ralph S. Hayes Jr - B-17 A/C 588 30 December 1944

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Leendert
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Major Ralph S. Hayes Jr - B-17 A/C 588 30 December 1944

At the end of December 1944 Major Jack A. Crichton, 487th BG Intelligence Officer, and Major Ralph S. Hayes Jr. were part of a mission to investigate the crash of B-17 44-8444 due to which  Brig. Gen. Frederick W. Castle (4th CBW) and others were killed on 24 December 1944 in eastern Belgium.
 
Two questions:
 
Can Major Hayes be identified as Lt Ralph Hayes, B-17 pilot of 427th BS, 303rd BG and who as Captain became CO of 730th, 452nd BG in 1943?
 
In a report Major Crichton tells that after a rough landing at Florennes-Juzaine Airfield, Belgium, on 30 Dec 1944 with Major Hayes as pilot, their B-17 with A/C serial “588” flipped over on back, knocking Hayes out but came to, men hanging by belts upside down,  got out OK.  The freshly repaired B-17 was assigned to them at Laon-Couvron Airfield, France, earlier that day.
Can this  B-17 be fully identified? I had no luck so far with any B-17 that had a serial ending  with “588”  nor seems there be another online reference to this case.
 
Thanks for any info.
 
Regards,
Leendert

 
Quote  #1

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    RSwank
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    Re:Major Ralph S. Hayes Jr - B-17 A/C 588 30 December 1944 (permalink)
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    Here is a start on tracing Hayes.
    On fold3.com, the Major Ralph S(warthout) Hayes, Jr who investigated the 24 Dec crash has serial number O-430583.    
     
    As a Lt this Ralph S Hayes had a  landing in Ireland.  Search for O-430583 on this link.
    http://www.csn.ul.ie/~dan/war/crashes.htm
    He then went on to the 303rd BG.   
    http://www.303rdbg.com/c-427-hayes.html
    He appears many times on the 303rd BG website.  
    ( Do a Google site search by entering this on the Google Search line:
    site:www.303rdbg.com  "Ralph S Hayes"|"Lt Hayes" )
    In particular, on this page it lists his "final"  fate as CO of the 730th BS
    http://www.303rdbg.com/h-pilots.html

    His obit here:
    http://www.fullerfh.com/sitemaker/sites/fuller0/obit.cgi?user=327695Hayes
     
    Quote  #2
    dennis_burke
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    Re:Major Ralph S. Hayes Jr - B-17 A/C 588 30 December 1944 (permalink)
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    I might just add that the Irish Army report on the forcde landing in Ireland gives no indication that they aircraft was 'hit' as it says in his obituary.  They had engine trouble, which resulted in an engine being replaced on the beach before departure.
     
    Regards,
    Dennis,
    operator of the http://www.csn.ul.ie/~dan/war/crashes.htm webpage.

    Dennis Burke
    Dublin
    www.skynet.ie/~dan/war/crashes.htm
    Quote  #3
    Leendert
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    Re:Major Ralph S. Hayes Jr - B-17 A/C 588 30 December 1944 (permalink)
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    Thanks so far for these more details about Major Hayes.
    Leaves us to find what B-17 they had the accident with on 30 Dec 1944 as described by Major Crichton. If the B-17 had flipped over and had engine dameges, then probably a complete write-off.
     
    Regards,
     
    Leendert
     
     
    Quote  #4
    RSwank
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    Re:Major Ralph S. Hayes Jr - B-17 A/C 588 30 December 1944 (permalink)
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    Here is a link  to Major Crichton's diary where he discusses the "flip over" of "588" and the investigation of Castle's death.   
     
    http://www.battleofthebulgememories.be/fr/stories/us-air-force/230-diary-of-major-crichton-487th-bomb-group-intelligence-officer.html
    Quote  #5
    MB0427
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    Re:Major Ralph S. Hayes Jr - B-17 A/C 588 30 December 1944 (permalink)
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         RSwank,
        Thanks for posting the link to the investigator of Brig. Gen. Castle's crash site. Good info ! When CO of the 94th BG then Col. Castle would fly what were thought to be tough missions. When flying as Mission Commander as pilot, co-pilot or sitting in a jump seat taking notes he was always calm and in control. When he flew the crews knew it would be a rough mission. The story of him and the pilot staying with the A/C to keep it from crashing into Allied ground troops is well known. Regards, Marc
    Quote  #6
    hago
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    Re:Major Ralph S. Hayes Jr - B-17 A/C 588 30 December 1944 (permalink)
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    Hi Leendert
    I believe you are looking for B-17G-90-BO, 43-38588 "Eileens Kindergarden" 546th BS/384th BG a/c BK-D
    16-Nov-1944
    A-46, Toussus-le-Noble Airfield, France
    Landing Accident, Cat 3
    44-11-16-534
    Lt. Col. Milton, Theodore R. -CO 384th BG from 24-Oct-1944-
    Col. SMITH, DALE O. -ex. CO 384th BG to 24,Oct.1944-
    Nav 2nd Lt. CHAPIN, ROBERT C.
    B 2nd Lt. CROWN, RICHARD K.
    Cpl. HAYES, DAVID N. -from Ellis Crew-
    Cpl. ROSENFIELD, ARTHUR -from Ellis Crew-
    2nd Lt. ELLIS, HAROLD R. -Pilot-
     
    see
    http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbasn.asp?SN=43-38588&Submit4=Go
    and
    http://www.384thbombgroup.com/
     
    good luck
    Hartmut
    Quote  #7
    Leendert
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    Re:Major Ralph S. Hayes Jr - B-17 A/C 588 30 December 1944 (permalink)
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    Hartmut,
     
    Thanks for the suggestion.
     
    According to the 384th BG website a/c 588 didn't fly  missions between 11 Nov 44 and 27 Feb 45.
    The 16 Nov 44 landing accident is within that timeframe to put the B-17 out of action for a while, but what strikes me is that nowhere the 30 Dec 44 "flip over" at Florennes, Belgium can be traced back  in an accident report or so.
    But if a/c 43-38588 was indeed the one of Florennes, then the damages must have been repairable after all.
     
    Regards,
     
    Leendert
     
    Quote  #8
    hago
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    Re:Major Ralph S. Hayes Jr - B-17 A/C 588 30 December 1944 (permalink)
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    Hello Leendert
    41-2588 - 28-Jun-1942 groundlooped Cat5, Presque Isle AAF, Maine USA
    41-24588 - 08-Mar.1943 ditched Channel 10 NM off Selsey Bill, UK
    42-29588 - 29.07.1943 crashed Cat 5, Kearney AAF, Nebraska USA
    42-30588 - 18.Jul.1943 crash landed Cat 5, Redmond AAF, Oregon USA
    42-31588 - 23.Aug.1944 salvaged, 457th BG Glatton, UK (b/d 21.Feb.1944)
    42-97588 - 23.May.1944 crashlanded, hit the bomb dump at RNAF Ford, UK (destroyed)
    42-102588 - possible a 8th aaf a/c,  but no assignement known
    43-37588 - never left the ZOI
    43-38588 - my favorite
    44-6588 - never left ZOI
    44-8588 - 27.Oct.1944 del Cheyenne, 22.Dec.1944 Grenier, 23.Jan.1945 91st BG
    44-83588 - delivered 10.Apr.1945 Tulsa
    44-85588 - delivered 28.Mar.1945 Louisville
     
    good luck
    Hartmut
     
     
     
     
    Quote  #9
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