| U.S. Army Air Force 495th Bomb Squadron (M), 344th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force Cpl. Ralph F. Tancordo 32275140 |
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| WARTIME SERVICE Ralph F. Tancordo was born in 1918 and joined the United States Army on April 2nd 1942 in Newark New Jersey. He served as a U.S. Army Air Force Flight Engineer in the 495th Bomb Squadron, 344th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force. His awards include: Distinguished Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, European African and Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars and the World War Two Victory Medal. HISTORY OF THE 495TH BOMB SQUADRON The 495th Bomb Squadron was deployed to Ninth Air Force in Western Europe during World War II as a B-26 Marauder medium bomber group. The 344th Bombardment Group was selected to lead the IX Bomber Command formations on D-Day, with the first aircraft taking off at 04:12 hours to attack coastal batteries in Cherbourg. It received a Distinguished Unit Citation for three-day action against the enemy, 24-26 Jul 1944, when the group struck troop concentrations, supply dumps, a bridge, and a railroad viaduct to assist advancing ground forces at Saint-Lô. 344th Bombardment Group (Medium) Activated on 8 Sep 1942 Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946 Stations MacDill Field, Florida, 8 Sep 1942 Drane Field, Florida, 28 Dec 1942 Hunter Field, Georgia, 19 Dec 1943- 26 Jan 1944 RAF Stansted Mountfitchet (AAF-169), England, 9 Feb 1944 Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airfield (A-59), France, 30 Sep 1944 Florennes/Juzaine Airfield (A-78), Belgium, 5 Apr 1945 Schleissheim Palace, Germany, 15 Sep 1945-15 Feb 1946 (Ground Echelon) Components 494th Bombardment Group (K9), 8 Sep 1942-31 Mar 1946 495th Bombardment Group (Y5), 8 Sep 1942-31 Mar 1946 496th Bombardment Group (N3), 8 Sep 1942-31 Mar 1946 496th Bombardment Group (7I), 8 Sep 1942-30 Dec 1945 |
| Olive Drab Wool Field Jacket (also known as an "Eisenhower" Jacket) belonging to Cpl. Ralph F. Tancordo, above left and right photo. |
| Right side of jacket, above left photo. Above the right pocket is a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) - see citation below. Left side of jacket, above right photo. Above the left pocket are ribbons for the Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with two campaign stars and World War Two Victory Medal. |
| Left sleeve, above left photo. On the left sleeve is a machine sewn 9th Air Force Service Sleeve Insignia (SSI). Left sleeve, right photo. On the left and right sleeve are hand sewn Corporal Rank Insignia. |
| Lower left sleeve, above photo. On the lower left sleeve is one hand sewn 3 Year Service Stripe and three hand sewn Overseas Stripes for 1 1/2 years of overseas service. |
| Manufacturer tag, above left photo. This tag is constructed of cotton and stitched on the inside of the right pocket. It is marked: Jackets, Field, Wool O.D. Stock No. 55-J-384-550 34 R PROGRESSIVE CLOTHING MFG. CO. P.O. No 12021 Dated June 9, 1944 Pattern Dated 5/10/44 Spec. P. Q. D. No. 437 Phila. Q. M. Depot Inside jacket rear, above right photo. On the inside rear of the jacket is hand written T-5140 and the size label 34R. |