World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Ralph Bruce Wagner
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Harvard, Illinois
Honored By
Sam E. Pennartz
ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON MARCH 7, 1942 AT CAMP GRANT NEAR ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS. GRADUATED FROM BOMBARDIER TRAINING CLASS 43-07 AT BIG SPRING ARMY AIR FIELD, TEXAS. ASSIGNED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRES OF OPERATION, 20TH AIR FORCE, 315TH BOMB WING, 16TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (VERY HEAVY), 16TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT NORTHWEST FIELD ON GUAM IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 12, 1945, HE FLEW AS THE BOMBARDIER ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS (TAIL #42-63653). HIS B-29 WAS ONE OF FIFTY-THREE AIRCRAFT IN THE WING FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE KAWASAKI PETROLEUM COMPLEX, LOCATED BETWEEN TOKYO AND YOKOHAMA IN THE MOST HEAVILY DEFENDED AREA OF JAPAN. DURING THE 14-HOUR FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED (ON THE 13TH OF JULY) WITHOUT A TRACE, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE AIRCREW.