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 358th McKinley Crew
Ralph C. McKinley, Pilot
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RALPH C. McKINLEY CREW - 358th BS
B-17G #42-97298 The Floose 358th BS (VK-H)
(crew assigned 358BS: 17 Aug 1944 - photo: 08 Dec 1944)

(Back L-R) 1Lt Donald C. Long (N), 1Lt Ralph C. McKinley (P)
2Lt James A. Harwick (CP), 1Lt George A. Green (B)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt Burlen Jones (E), Sgt Woodrow E. Clark (BT)
Sgt Evan R. Soule (TG), S/Sgt Thomas J. Devaney (WG)
T/Sgt Richard S. Moll (R), Sgt Jack D. Cahn (WG)

Thirty-Three dispatched (32 credited) Combat Missions flown by 1Lt Ralph C. McKinley:
234 (30 Aug 1944), 235, 236, 239, 241, 243, 245, 246, 247, 248, 251, 253, 255, 256, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 269, 270, 271, 272(A), 276, 277, 275, 280, 281, 283, 285, 286, 287, 290 (24 Dec 1944). (A) Non-Credited aborted mission. For Mission dates, targets and Mission Reports, see Combat Missions.

Crew Notes:

  • 1Lt Ralph C. McKinley (P) - First mission (234) flown as CoPilot with experienced combat Pilot, 1Lt John R. Helms. All other missions flown as First Pilot. Completed Combat tour (32 missions) on 24 Dec 1944 (mission 290).
  • 1Lt George A. Green (B) - Flew on 9 credited combat missions with 1Lt McKinley (234, 235, 236, 239, 241, 243, 245, 246, 248) and 21 missions with other Pilots as a Lead Crew Bombardier (251, 253, 254, 255, 261, 263, 266, 271, 274, 283, 287, 292, 294, 299, 303, 311, 318, 326, 331, 339, 347). Completed 30 mission combat tour on 28 March 1945 (mission 347).
  • Sgt Jack D. Cahn (WG) - Removed from crew when second Waist Gunner was deleted from 303rd BG(H) combat crews. Flew no 303rd BG(H) combat missions.
  • Other Crewmen - Clew all of their missions with 1Lt McKinley with the following exceptions and additions with other Pilots
  Missions    
with
McKinley		 Missions    
Flown
Total 		McKinley    
Mission
Stand Down		 Missions    
with
Other Pilots
2Lt James A Harwick (CP) 32 33 234 291
1Lt Donald C. Long, Jr. (N) 32 33 243 264
T/Sgt Burlen Jones (E) 33 34 261 273
T/Sgt Richard S. Moll (R) 32 32 none none
Sgt Woodrow E. Clark (BTG) 32 33 287 296
S/Sgt Thomas J. Devaney (WG) 32 32 none none
Sgt Evan R. Soule (TG) 33 33 none none

Sixteen B-17Gs flown by 1Lt McKinley on his 33 dispatched combat missions:
See our Nose Art for photos of the named B-17s

Serial No. Aircraft Name Squadron ID Code Missions flown
43-38065 Princess Pat 2 (358BS) VK-J 234, 248, 251, 255, 263
43-38176 Bouncing Betty II (358BS) VK-N 235, 236, 239, 245, 246, 285
43-37590 Neva - The Silver Lady (358BS) VK-Q 247, 279
42-102945 Sweet Pea (358BS) VK-M 253, 272(A)
44-6516 My Darling (360BS) PU-Q 256
44-6503 Lady Alta (358BS) VK-F 271
43-38462 Teddy's Rough Riders (358BS) VK-I 280
42-97298 The Floose (358BS) VK-H 286, 287
43-38238 (No name) (358BS) VK-L 241, 266, 277
43-38200 (No name) (358BS) VK-E 243
43-38442 (No name) (360BS) PU-N 261, 262
43-38530 (No name) (358BS) VK-G 265, 270, 281
43-38878 (No name) (359BS) BN-D 269
44-6316 (No name) (358BS) VK-C 276
44-6523 (No name) (360BS) PU-A 283
44-6006 (No name) (358BS) VK-D 290

[photo from the 303rdBGA Archives]
[Researched by Harry D. Gobrecht, 303rdBGA Historian Emeritus]