Monuments
Name:
Louis L. Ratkiewicz
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
10601012
Unit:
547th Bomber Squadron, 384th Bomber Group
Date of Death:
0000-00-00
State:
Michigan
Cemetery:
Plot:
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Comments:
SSgt Louis L. Ratkiewicz, tail gunner of the B-17 42-31059 “Patches”, took off from station 106 in Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire, UK on a bombing mission over Schweinfurt, Germany. They were shot down by German fighters at 1630. Only the bombardier Lt Wilson died, possibly due to a malfunctioning parachute. Ratkiewicz was able to escape to Switzerland with the help of local families.