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Production-block:
B-17G-50-DL: 44-6251 to 44-6500
Manufacturer:
Douglas
- Bomb Group:
- 385th Bomb Group
- Bomb Squadron:
- 550th Bomb Squadron
- RCL: SG-G
Fate:
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History of
B-17 44-6483 / Ruby’s Raiders
Delivered Hunter 17/8/44; Grenier 4/9/44; Assigned 550BS/385BG [SG-G] Gt Ashfield 8/9/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 26/6/45; Sth Plains 28/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 5/11/45. RUBY’S RAIDERS.
Last updated: 10. October 2017
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B-17 44-6483 / Ruby’s Raiders Details
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25. January 2018 access_time 7:18
My father Clyde Elbert Gibbs flew 22 missions out of England in “Ruby’s Raiders”. He was the ball gunner. He once told me that the only things he ever shot were a Jeep and a cow. He was injured once when a piece of flack hit the ball and shattered it. A piece of the glass lodged into his shoulder. He wasn’t rewarded the Purple Heart since he wasn’t hit by enemy material! He also told me that he lost his Good Conduct Award because he urinated on a church somewhere in England. He passed away a decade ago at age 85.
25. January 2018 access_time 7:57
Thank you for sharing your father’s story!
01. August 2018 access_time 0:50
Hello,
My name is Bradley Lash I am the grandson of 1st lieutenant Marshall Lash, the navigator of Ruby’s Raiders. Mr. Von Rod Gibbs, if you may sir, please contact me I would love to talk to you about your grandfather! Lashbrade@@gmail.com
10. July 2023 access_time 23:34
Dear Von Bradley Lash,
Believe it or not I’m finally responding to your very kind attempt to reach out to me over three years ago about your grandfather’s adventures in the B17 known as Ruby’s Raiders during WW2. My father was Clyde (Cy) Gibbs and served as the ball gunner on the plane through 20 or so missions over Germany.
Unfortunately he never really talked much about his time during the war and I deeply regret missing the opportunity. He passed away at 85 years old about 15 years ago. I do recall that he told me that he only fired his guns twice; once at an enemy jeep and once more at an enemy cow! Don’t know if he hit either of them. And he lost his good conduct medal when he got caught relieving himself on the side of a church in England!
Here are a few fotos. I hope you find your grandfather in them.
IMG_8542.jpegIMG_8541.jpegIMG_8538.jpegIMG_8537.jpegIMG_8533.jpegIMG_8532.jpegIMG_8530.jpeg
These photos have been misplaced until recently. Imagine how excited I was to finally find them. I’m glad I saved your contact info. Please feel free to contact me if you want to share info.
Rod Gibbs
Nipomo, CA
16. July 2023 access_time 23:55
Dear sir, I would like to contact you yes and share lots of information. Your images unfortunately didn’t publish. Is there a way to send them to my email? Lashbrade@gmail.com
09. July 2020 access_time 22:55
It seems like to me that i heard a story about you dad getting locked in the ball and they had landing gear problems and were worried about setting down on the belly with your dad locked in the ball. it all turned out ok. My father was Orval Garrett and flew 35 missions with Ruby’s and Frank Blackwell. Still living today at 96. Gregg Garrett 07/09/2020
08. October 2018 access_time 4:52
My Dad. 1st Lieutenant Herbert R McGregor flew missions 202, 203, 206, 214 and 218 from October 22 to December 4. 1944 in Ruby’s Raiders as co-pilot on Frank Blackwell’s crew. He completed 35 missions on January 7, 1945.
28. May 2019 access_time 1:08
Hello, my mother is Ruby Newell Dallmeier. That’s my mother on the side of the great plane and fearless B-17. I’m very proud of my mother and the brave crew of Ruby’s Raiders. She is burried with my Dad at Riverside Veterans Memorial Cemetery. My Mother was a beautiful loving person all the way. I love her, and my Dad very much. God Bless America.
24. September 2019 access_time 3:07
Hi,
I am doing some research about your mother, Ruby! I am also very proud of her even though I didn’t know her! My father flew P-47 and P-51 out of Metfield and Raydon in England in 1943-1945 with the 353rd Fighter Group. Raydon has a historical society–very active and dedicated. They have preserved part of the airfield and the runways and they are dedicated to preserving the stories of the Americans who came and helped save the world. I/we are interested in your mother’s wonderful story, too! Did your mother ever write about her war experiences? Did she share stories? Would you be interested in helping me with my research? Respectfully, Katy Carter, katycarter353@gmail.com.
20. May 2020 access_time 10:55
I know a few stories of my mothers time back in those days. My brother has here photo collection from her modeling days. Do you know if the plane is still in one piece? I heard it was in a air museum but I don’t know where exactly. Contact me anytime. May God Bless the crew and all their families.
09. June 2020 access_time 17:51
Hi there…….I have just been trying to research something you mother because I have just been involved in a rare image of her at P-51D naming ceremony in her honour! I would love to give you a copy of the image, and maybe speak with you about her, if you had no objection? By all accounts she seem to be a remarkable woman, and I am so sorry she is no longer with us. Very best regards Nathan
09. July 2020 access_time 22:15
Hello, my name is Gregg Garrett. My dad flew 35 missions with Ruby’s Radiers. His name is Orval Garrett, still living today at 96. For years we had a photo of him handing your mother a bouquet of flowers while standing by the plane. Unforfortunately at some point that photo got lost.
Gregg Garrett 07 09 2020
12. July 2020 access_time 23:04
Hello, my father is Orval Garrett and flew 35 missions with Frank Blackwell and Ruby’s Raiders. He is 96 yeas old and living today. He was the radio operator. For many years we had a picture of him handing your mother flowers in front of the plane. At some point it got lost. Gregg Garrett
09. July 2020 access_time 22:05
Hello, MY name is Gregg Garrett. My father Orval Garrett flew 35 missions with Ruby’s raiders and Frank Blackwell. He was the radio operator and is still living today at 96 years old.
Gregg Garrett 07/08/2020
24. December 2020 access_time 3:04
Wow! I didn’t know that there was any crew that was still left from Ruby’s Raiders. I’ve been getting information from the 385bga about my close friend Earl “Marty” Martin, the tail gunner, and the planes he was in during his tour of duty in late ’44, very early ’45.
07. January 2022 access_time 18:10
I am the President of the Fort Smith Air Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Earl Martin is in the air museum…you can see it at ( fortsmithairmuseum.com ). If you click on “Inside the Museum”, you see Earl’s display case at the end of the pictures. Earl died a couple of years ago. I had the honor of visiting with Earl on many occasions including the day before he died. I took him to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to ride in the B-17 “Simental Journey” about six years ago. He was a good man and a hero. Wayne Haver
24. December 2023 access_time 3:20
Earl was my wife’s grandad .. an amazing man!
11. November 2020 access_time 17:30
My Father was Quinten Brown a Tech Sgt. who was the Radio Man. I do not know how many missions he flew. He passed away in 1983 at the age of 63.
24. December 2020 access_time 3:15
Hello, my name is Clay Montgomery, my best friend was the tail gunner, Earl “Marty” Martin, for Frank Blackwell’s crew in late ’44, ’45. He would tell me about “Hit Parade Jr.” and how shot up it was, he said “it had so many repairs on the fuselage, it looked like it had feathers all over, before we got Ruby’s Raiders.” He also told me the story and the piece of shrapnel the hit his oxygen supply, and the waist gunner came back and saved his life, he told him he would name his son after him, and he did. He was a great man, and I always loved being around him. God Bless.
24. December 2020 access_time 9:24
Thank you for sharing this interesting story! 🙂
26. December 2023 access_time 4:49
Earl Martin did have a son and named him after the right waist gunner, Maurice Shannon, that brought Earl a portable oxygen tank after a piece a piece of flak blew up Earl’s mounted oxygen tank at 30,000 feet. Earl told Shannon, you’ve saved my life and if I ever have a son I’ll name him after you. Earl name his son Maurice and he later became a doctor here in Fort Smith, AR.
20. October 2024 access_time 20:47
My Father, John Basiliko, who attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, flew as a gunner on Ruby’s Raiders. He never talked about his war time service. My husband discovered a photo of my Dad standing in front of his aircraft, in my Mother’s things after her death. Dad suffered from PTSD all his life, after he returned from the war. My husband has researched my Father’s service, which has allowed me to better understand my Dad. I am extremely proud of his service to this nation.