Sgt. R. C. Murray Is Declared
To Be Officially Dead
HE IS THE HUSBAND OF
MRS. EMMA MURRAY OF ARNOLDS PARK
Mrs. Emma Murray of Arnolds Park has just been notified by the federal government that her husband, Staff Sergeant Ralph Clinton Murray, has officially been declared dead.
Sgt. Murray was first reported missing in action in a bombing mission over Poznan, Poland. He was a gunner on a B-17 (Fortress). The plan was attacked and when last sighted was over the Baltic sea and north of the mouth of the Odor river. No trace of plane or crew has ever been found. The incident occurred April 11, 1944.
Before induction into service, Sgt. Murray was employed by the Dr. Pepper Bottling Co. in Spencer. He was inducted in January, 1943, and was first stationed in Miami, Fla. Later he attended a gunnery school at Fort Meyers in the same state and later had advanced training at Goldsboro, N. C. He completed his flying training at Ardmore, Okla., and was attached to his crew at Ephrata, Wash.
His last furlough was in January, 1944, and at this time he spent 10 days with his wife and parents.
Leaving the United States, he spent abut two weeks with his fellow crewmen in Newfoundland. They flew to England and were camped near Cambridge, his unit a part of the Eighth air force.
Besides his wife, S-Sgt. Murray is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mr. C. G. Murray of Arnolds Park; a sister, Mrs. John Towers, who lives in California; and by several brothers. They are: Malcolm, in California; Billy, in the U. S. naval service and stationed in the South Pacific; Robert, recently discharged from military service and living at Lacarne, O.; Donald, recently discharged from the coast guard and now at home; Thomas, with the United States air forces stationed at Northfield, Minn., and Max, still in school.
Source: The Milford Mail, Milford, Iowa, Thursday, November 01, 1945, Page 1
Ralph Clinton Murray is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. Sgt. Murray served with the 412th Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group, Heavy and was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart.
Source: ancestry.com; abmc.gov
