Ralph L. Hanson.

On March 18, 1943, Hot Freight flew out on a mission to the Vegesack shipbuilding works in Germany. The B-24 held the diamond position in the lead element. Over the target, ME-110 fighters attacked from the front while anti-aircraft fire came up from below. The plane was hit hard and went down west of Seefield.

The entire crew was killed in the crash. Their names were recorded in the files, and their loss was noted in MACR 15595.

Nine years later, in May 1952, the crew was buried together. By then the war had been over for seven years, but their service and sacrifice were remembered.