World War 2
Ralph Kissel
Lt. Ralph Kissel Presumed Dead
Mrs. Virginia Kissel, 518 1/2 Vine Street, received word from the War Department Wednesday that her husband, Second Lt. Ralph Kissel, missing in action since August 24, 1944, is presumed dead.
On that date, the B-24 Liberator of which Lt. Kissel was a crewmember took part in a bombing mission over Pardubice, Czechoslovakia. At 12:50 p. m. the plane, damaged by enemy anti-aircraft fire fell northwest of Amstetten, Austria, just south of the Czech border. The notification which Mrs. Kissel received stated that all records and sources had been checked but that no further information after August 24 was available.
Lt. Kissel was in the 15th Air Force based in Italy. On August 7, 1944 he was reported missing for the first time but landed in Russia where he spent ten days and later rejoined the U. S. Forces in Italy. August 24 he was reported missing for the second time in a month.
He had 15 more missions to fly before he would have reached the quota of 50 set to return airmen to the States. He held the Air Medal with cluster and the Purple Heart.
Before going overseas in February, 1944 he trained at Santa Ana, Ontario and Mercerd in California, Fort Sumner, New Mexico, Tucson, Arizona and McCook and Lincoln in Nebraska.
Death Of Lt. Kissel Confirmed
Second Lt. Ralph Kissel has been pronounced killed in action because of information based on captured German documents, the War Department has informed his wife, Virginia, of 518 1/2 Vine street.
Lt. Kissel was killed August 21, 1944, the day he was formerly listed as missing in action, at Koroisboden, Austria
This final pronouncement ends almost two years of uncertainty for the B-24 pilot's family.
Surviving are his wife, Virginia Jordan Kissel, their son Kenneth Lynn, 2, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Kissel of R. D. 3 and a sister, Mrs. Morris Dague of Jeromesville, Ashland county has had 101 war fatalities.
transcribed by
 Russ Shopbell
contributed by
Shirley Boyd
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