Robins, Ralph Melville, Staff Sergeant 11040984, Army Air Force, 9th Division, 98th Bomb Group, 344th Bomb Squad

Attack on Ploesti Target, B-24, 41-24187, “The Vulgar Virgin” Lead Aircraft in the “E” section

On August 1, 1943, the 44th, 93rd, 98th, 376th and 398th Bomb Groups departed Benghazi, Libya for a mission codenamed Operation Tidal Wave with the objective to bomb the Romania oil refineries in Ploesti. Historians cite the mission as the most intensively prepared and experienced ever flown in aerial warfare.

For Hitler’s massive forces, Romania was a valued ally. Governed by Marshal Ion Antonescu, the country was among the world’s largest oil producers, eventually supplying almost 60 percent of the Third Reich’s thirsty crude oil needs. The Fuhrer’s precious black gold was guarded by 300 flak guns, hundreds of machine guns, a deadly flak train, concealed emplacements, 120 German fighters and 200 Romanian Air Force fighters.

In the early afternoon of August 1, 1943, an armada of B-24 Liberators arrived at Ploesti after a journey of 1,200 miles. Planned as a surprise attack under strict radio silence, five groups would drop their bombs from 200 to 800 feet, expecting an ensuing inferno. But German General Alfred Gerstenberg, who had cracked the Allied codes, knew they were coming.

Life Story:

Ralph Melville Robins was the middle child born on Jun 2, 1920 in New York, New York. His parents William L Robins and Catherine Robins nee Zangg, were both born in New York and married in 1910, when William was 18 and Catherine was 15 years old. Ralph joined an older brother William and 6 years later a sister Faith, completed the family. The 1920 census, taken a few months before Ralph was born recorded that the family lived in Queens, New York in a home that they owned. William (dad) was a stenographer at a chemical company. Older brother William was 4 years old.

The 1925 census from New York shows little change in the family status. William (dad) is still working in Queens as a clerk and Catherine (mom) is a homemaker; probably keeping busy chasing 2 young boys.

By 1940 the family had moved to Ossining, New York; about 40 miles north of Queens. Dad was now working as a clerk in Sing Sing Prison. Twenty-year-old Ralph had graduated High School and the census states that he was not working but had been seeking work for 44 weeks.

Ralph found work when he moved to Hartford Connecticut. His draft registration card, completed in July, 1941 list his occupation as baker, working at Frisbie's Pie Company. He was described as standing 5 ft. 7 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds. He had blue eyes and auburn hair.

Less than a month after the bombing at Pearl Harbor, on January 2, 1942, Ralph enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was assigned service ID 11040984 with the 344th Bomb Squad, 98th Bomb Group. Records have not been found related to his training, movement or missions overseas.

However, one mission was recorded as the heroism involved did not go unnoticed. In May 1943, as a B24 Liberator, piloted by Captain Wallace, neared its target - a port in southern Italy, ran into a swarm of enemy fighters. Captain Wallace ordered bombs salvaged and commenced evasive action. Staff Sergeant Robins noticed that two 1000-pound bombs were “hanging” one of them jammed in the rack. With the wind rushing through the open bay doors, its tail fuse started to spin. Robins shouted to the pilot that “all hell is likely to break loose back here– a thousand pounder is jammed, and her fuse is spinning.” The pilot stopped evasive action while another member of the crew Lieutenant Robert Austin along with Robins diffused the bomb all the while being pursued by enemy planes.

Staff Sergeant/Gunner Robins was flying with the Vulgar Virgin, Tail # 41-24187 On August 1, 1943. A day before on July 31, 1943 as crews were briefed, they learned that they would have no fighter escorts during the arduous round trip. Radio silence was imperative. Bombs were to be dropped from no higher than 300 feet above ground level. They were then advised that they could expect a 50 percent/ loss rate.

The plane piloted by Captain Wallace C Taylor was the lead aircraft in the “E” section (the 5th wave) attacking White IV. Before reaching the target, the plane was hit by flak in the nose which immediately burst into flames. The Captain immediately called the nose and the tail but could not contact either one. He then gave the bail out order and rang the alarm bell. “I saw the co-pilot, engineer and assistant engineer bail out. I do not know what happened to the others members of the crew. I bailed out and landed in the vicinity of Ploesti. I left the plane when those with me were out and it was impossible to stay in the flames and heat.” Sadly, all members of the crew perished with the exception of the pilot; who was also the narrator of the event leading up to its crash.

Crew:

Crew of THE VULGAR VIRGIN

Captain Wallace C. Taylor - Pilot

1Lt. Jack K. Wood Navigator

1/Lt. Robert B. Austin Bombardier

Fl. Of. Paul W. Packer Co Pilot

T/Sgt. Gerald E. Rabb . Engineer

T/Sgt. Alfred F. Turgeon Radio Op.

S/Sgt. Donald R. Duchene Tail Gunner

S/Sgt. Louis Kaiser Waist Gunner

S/Sgt. Ralph M. Robins Gunner

Sgt. Arthur B. Van Kleeck Tail Gunner

Of the 165 bombers that reached Ploesti, only 88 aircraft returned, of which 54 were damaged significantly. Over 500 crewmen were lost from all causes, including 80 seriously wounded. One hundred eight airmen were taken prisoner in Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Yugoslavia. In May 1944, Allied aviators based in Italy bombed Ploesti from high altitudes. The Soviets overran Romania’s refineries in August 1944, capturing General Gerstenberg and closing Hitler’s “gas station.”

Staff Sergeant Robins was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster for Operation Tidal. Additionally, he earned an Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the Purple Heart.

Staff Sergeant Robins is memorialized at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Florence, Italy. His body was never recovered.

“To the Fallen of Ploesti” by John Riley Kane, Colonel, USAF, (Ret.)

“To you who fly on forever, I send that part of me which cannot be separated and is bound to you for all time. I send to you those of our hopes and dreams that never quite came true, the joyous laughter and showery tears of our boyhood, the marvelous mysteries of our adolescence, the glorious strength and tragic illusions of our young manhood, all these that were and perhaps would have been, I leave in your care, out there in the Blue.”

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (SBTS.) in partnership with MIA Recovery Network, Sons of Liberty and Army Air Corps Museum.

https://miarecoverynetwork.com

https://www.sonsoflibertymuseum.org

https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org

SBTS is a national effort of volunteers to write stories about all 400,000+ U.S. WW II fallen service personnel on Together We Served and on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Stories will be accessible via smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen serviceperson’s name and read his/her story. If you have details, photos or corrections for this story, please contact nelsoncindy25@gmail.om. Stories Behind the Stars: Cindy Nelson, Contributing Author. SBTS Project/New York/New York (https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/)

References:

https://www.honorstates.org/profiles/23279/

Ralph M Robins - Facts (ancestry.com)

SSgt Ralph Melville Robins (1920-1943) - Find a Grave Memorial

Story date: JULY 14, 2023

Added by: Cindy Nelson