Ernest Ralph Newell
Date of Birth: March 21, 1921
Place of Birth: Zeandale, Kansas
Father and Mother’s Names: Ernest Newell and Harriet (Kimball) Newell
Date Entered Service: TBD
Service Branch: Army Air Corps
Service Number: 0-753405
Rank: First Lieutenant, Pilot of B-17 Bomber.
Division/Company/Unit info: 569th Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group, 8th Air Force.
Awards and Commendations: Purple Heart and Air Medal (Posthumous).
Riley Connection: Born and grew up in Zeandale, Kansas.
Date of Death (and Age): April 27, 1944 (age 23).
Place of Death: Plane shot down by flak and crashed near Kluftern, Germany, three miles west of Friedrichshafen. Missing Air Crew Report #4291.
Grave Location: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, MO. Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Zeandale, KS. (memorial marker).
Bio: Ernest was born to Ernest Bryant Newell and Harriet Mary Ann "Hattie" (Kimball) Newell on March 12, 1921 in Zeandale, KS. He spent his childhood in Zeandale, KS and when he was a young man, joined the military. He eventually became a 1st Lieutenant attached to 569th Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group, 8th Air Force. Ernest was a Pilot and flew a B-17 Flying Fortress. Ernest and his crew were sent to bomb targets over Germany on April 24, 1944. Sadly, he and his crew were Killed In Action when their plane was shot down by flak and crashed near Kluftern, three miles west of Friedrichshafen, Germany, according to the Missing Air Crew Report #4291. The recovered bodies of the crewmen were buried in a mass grave at that time. Almost six years later, Ernest was re-interred on June 22, 1950 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis Co., MO.
Missing Air Crew Report 4291: Delivered Tulsa 14/3/44; Gr Island 29/3/44; Grenier 4/4/44; Assigned 569BS/390BG [CC-F] Framlingham 8/4/44; Missing in Action Friedrichshafen 24/4/44 with Ernie Newell, Co-pilot: Bill Pflug, Navigator: Jim Eppenberger, tog-T/Sgt Jack Chapman, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Jim Badcock, Radio Operator: Henry Kistner, Ball turret gunner: Okey Winter, Waist gunner: Owen Callahan, Waist gunner: Chester Sowers,Tail gunner: Francis Docker (10 Killed in Action); flak hit knocked off part of wing, which was on fire along with bomb bay. Aircraft exploded and crashed Kluftern, three miles W of Friedrichshafen, Germany.
