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This Remembrance Profile was originally created by CMSgt Don Skinner - Deceased
Casualty Info
Last Address 353rd Bomb Squadron St. Donat, Algeria
Casualty Date Apr 13, 1943
Cause MIA-Finding of Death
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Italy
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial - Carthage, Tunisia
According to his enlistment documents, Ray O. Weeks was born in Texas in 1921. The US Census 1930 shows the family living in Dallas, while the US Census 1940 has them in Justice Precinct #1, Harris County, Texas. His parents were Thomas L. and Estella V. Weeks.
Weeks enlisted on December 16, 1941 at Dallas, Texas. He had completed 2 years of high school, and was employed as a cook. He received training as an aerial gunner, and in 1942, was assigned as the ball turret gunner on the Thomas crew. He accompanied this crew from England to North Africa in October, 1942 and flew missions over North Africa, Sicily, and the Italian mainland.
On April 13, 1943, the aircraft was part of a formation that was assigned to bomb the Castel-Veterano Airdrome in Italy. No details on the loss have been located. The Missing Air Crew Report merely states "The aircraft failed to return." All personnel were listed as Missing in Action, and after 1 year had passed, were declared Killed in Action.
SSgt Weeks is remembered on the Walls of the Missing in the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Carthage, Tunisia on the Walls of the Missing.
www.findagrave.com
www.ancestry.com
www.abmc.gov
www.301stbg.com/Missions_Macrs.cfm
US Census 1930
US Census 1940
NARA Enlistment Records
Comments/Citation:
SSgt Ray O. Weeks was the assigned ball turret gunner on B-17F #41-24394, named "Hockamolocko Jock VI BB," assigned to the 353rd Bomb Squadron. No explanation or meaning of the name is in the records - just an entry giving aircraft number, squadron, and name.
Missing Air Crew Report 16302 was issued, but contains only a crew listing and the cryptic notation "Aircraft failed to return." Mission loading lists agree with the MACR that the personnel on board were:
1 Lt Jerry E. Thomas p
1 Lt Duke D. Cummings c-p
1 Lt Harry A. Wann, Jr. nav
1 Lt William E. Loewecke bomb
TSgt Julius J. Jacobs eng/tt gun
TSgt Joel B. Busby r/o
SSgt Ray O. Weeks btg
SSgt James Agee wg
Sgt Robert F. Nance photo
SSgt Richard J. Carignan tail gun
