Ward Mortiboy Randles (1916 - 1943)

Born 21 Jan 1916 in Alma Center, Jackson, Wisconsin, United States

Died 22 Dec 1943 at age 27 in North Sea

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Biography

Ward Randles was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

Ward Randles was awarded the Air Medal.

Tech Sergeant Ward Randles served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 11 Mar 1942
Unit(s): 328th Bombardment, 93rd Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force
Service ended: 22 Dec 1943

Tech Sergeant Ward Randles was Killed in Action when his bomber was hit by flak and dropped out if formation on a mission to Osnabruck, Germany. during World War II.

Ward was born 21 January 1916 in Alma Center, Wisconsin. He was the son of Earl John Randles and Georgia Minetta Mortiboy.

Ward was the radio operator of the B-24 Liberator bomber, Satan's Angels - #42-40604 on the 1 August 1943 mission to the Oil Fields and Refineries at Ploesti, Rumania named Operation Tidal Wave. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the mission.

He was killed in action on 22 December 1943 when the B-24 bomber he was the radio operator of, #42-41015 was hit by flak and dropped out of formation. The bomber was flying a mission to Osnabruck, Germany. He was initially listed as missing in action and declared presumed dead two years after he failed to return.

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #56293584 (accessed 20 June 2023)
  Memorial page for TSgt Ward M. Randles (unknown-22 Dec 1943), citing Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England (plot: Tablets of the Missing); Maintained by John Dowdy (contributor 47791572).
• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #124321520 (accessed 20 June 2023)
  Memorial page for Ward Mortiboy Randles (21 Jan 1916-22 Dec 1943), citing East Lawn Cemetery, Alma Center, Jackson County, Wisconsin, USA; Maintained by Frisianheroes (contributor 48018507).
• 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920"
  citing Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Affiliate Film Number: 1990; Line: 43; FHL microfilm: 1821990; Record number: 1947;
  FamilySearch Record: MF2S-7J7 (accessed 20 June 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRNY-F6J Image number 00047
  Ward Randles (3), single son, in household of Earl Randles (32) in Jackson, Wisconsin, United States. Born in Wisconsin.
• 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
  citing enumeration district (ED) ED 5, sheet 4B, line 53, family 106, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2575; FHL microfilm 2,342,309.
  FamilySearch Record: X9QV-BW2 (accessed 20 June 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRZP-YPY Image number 00841
  Ward M Randles (14), single son, in household of Earl J Randles (43) in Alma Center, Jackson, Wisconsin, United States. Born in Wisconsin.
• 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
  citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 10;
  FamilySearch Record: K7N9-LJB (accessed 20 June 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L9M1-C4V6
  Ward Randles (24), single son, in household of Earl Randles (52) in Alma Center, Jackson, Wisconsin, United States. Born in Wisconsin.

Sources

• Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
  National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Oregon, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 95
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #36633734 (accessed 20 June 2023)
  Name: Ward Mortiboy Randles; Gender: Male; Race: White; Age: 24; Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head); Birth Date: 21 Jan 1916; Birth Place: Alma Center, Wisconsin, USA; Residence Place: Redmond, Deshutes, Oregon, USA; Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940; Registration Place: Oregon, USA; Employer: Bend Portland Trucking Service; Height: 5 10; Weight: 155; Complexion: Light; Hair Color: Brown; Eye Color: Hazel; Next of Kin: Georgia Randles;
  Household Members (Name) Relationship:
  Ward Mortiboy Randles Self (Head)
  Georgia Randles Mother.
• Military: "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946"
  citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
  FamilySearch Record: K8B7-B5B (accessed 20 June 2023)
  Name: Ward M Randles; Marital Status: Single, without dependents; Race: White; Military Service Date: 11 Mar 1942; Military Service Place: Presidio Of Monterey, California, United States; Birth Date: 1916; Birth Place: WISCONSIN; Arc Identifier: 1263923; Branch Alpha Orig: BI; Branch Code: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA; Branch Code Orig: 00; Civil Occupation: Semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor; Civil Occupation Orig: 736; Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men); Component Orig: 7; Education: 3 years of college; Education Orig: 7; Enlistment Day: 11; Enlistment Month: Mar; Enlistment Month Orig: 03; Enlistment Place: PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY CALIFORNIA; Enlistment Place Orig: 9165; Enlistment Term: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law; Enlistment Term Orig: 5; Enlistment Year: 1942; Enlistment Year Orig: 42; Event Type: Military Service; Grade Alpha Orig: -VT; Grade Code: Private; Grade Code Orig: 8; Major Force Of Assign: 2; Military Occupation: 6915; Reel Box Card: 13896.155; Serial Number: 39092316; Source: Civil Life; Source Orig: 0.
• State Airmen Decorated for Ploesti Raid: "Newspapers.com"
  Portage Daily Register (Portage, Wisconsin) Thu, Nov 18, 1943, page 1
  Newspapers Clip: 126798688 (accessed 20 June 2023)
• U.S. Veteran Headstone Application: "U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985"
  National Archives at Washington DC; Washington DC, USA; Applications for Headstones For U.S. Military Veterans, 1925-1941; NAID: 596118; Record Group Number: 92; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2375 #1369108 (accessed 20 June 2023)
  Name: Ward Mortiboy Randles; Birth Date: 21 Jan 1916; Service Number: 39092316; Service Branch: US Army; Unit: 93rd Bomb Group Bomb Squardon Flying Cross; Enlistment Date: 11 Mar 1942; Discharge Date: 22 Dec 1943; Death Date: 22 Dec 1943; Cemetery: East Lawn Cemetey; Cemetery Location: Alma Center, Wisconsin, USA.
• U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency: "U.S., Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-for Remains, Group B (Unrecoverable), 1941-1975"
  Defense Pow/Mia Accounting Agency; Washington DC; Defense Pow/Mia Accounting Agency, Unaccounted-For Remains, Group B, 1941-1975
  Ancestry Record 62207 #10011 (accessed 20 June 2023)
  Name: Ward M Randles; Residence Place: Oregon; War: World War II; Military Service Branch: US Army Air Forces; MIA Place: North Sea [North Sea Or Tyrrhenian Sea]; Death Date: 22 Dec 1943.
• American Battle Monument Commission - Ward M. Randles
• National Archives - Missing Air Crew Report number 2191 Record Group 92: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, Series: Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs)