World War II Honoree

Ralph O. Pitts, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Albertville, Alabama

Honored By

Tim Ketchum

CO-PILOT, B-17G AIRCRAFT, 342ND BOMB SQUADRON, 97TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 15TH AIR FORCE. ON 28 APRIL 1944, ON HIS 30TH MISSION, AS THE LEAD PLANE IN THE SQUADRON FLYING OUT OF FOGGIA, ITALY, HE WAS SHOT DOWN BEHIND ENEMY LINES IN NORTHERN ITALY. HE AND THREE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CREW WERE TAKEN IN BY SOME LOCAL PARTISANS. THEY BEGAN AN EIGHT WEEK TRIP THROUGH ENEMY TERRITORY AND REACHED THE AMERICAN LINES ON THE 21ST OF JUNE. HE WAS RETURNED TO DUTY AND SURVIVED THE REST OF THE WAR. FOR HIS ACTIONS DURING THE WAR, HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND THE AIR MEDAL WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS.