Ralph E. Howland was born on June 29, 1918 in North Dakota. He resided in Sacramento County, California prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on February 12, 1943 in Santa Ana, California. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as an Accountant and/or auditor and also as married.

He served as a First Lieutenant and a Bombardier on the B-17G #42-102422, 816th Bomber Squadron, 483rd Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-17G #42-102422 took off from Sterparone, Italy on July 18, 1944 on a bombing mission over Memmingen, Germany. Prior to "bombs away" they, along with 6 other B-17's, were attacked by an overwhelming number of German fighter aircraft. B-17G #42-102422, along with other B-17's, were shot down and crashed near Memmingen. The entire crew, except for S/Sgt. Jaski, was lost in this crash.

He was originally interred overseas and is now buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. His name is listed on a group headstone because his remains are comingled with those of his crewmates.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com