Ralph Hinckley

Ralph Hinckley WWII and Korean War Fighter Pilot, Member of the 510th Fighter Bomber Squadron, Former POW, Completed Over 100 Missions WESTFORD Ralph Hinckley, a 25-year career serviceman, accomplished WWII and Korean War fighter pilot and former POW died Friday, November 23, 2007 at the age of 88. Mr. Hinckley lived in Westford, MA with his wife of 55 years, Jane (Buckner). He was raised in Newtonville, MA, graduated from Newton High School and was the son of the late Gardner B. and Mercer Hinckley. Mr. Hinckley entered the military in 1942. He attended flight school, where he learned how to pilot the P-47 Thunderbolt, which was the largest single-engine fighter of its day, used both for aerial combat and air-to-ground attack missions. Ralph was stationed in Christ Church, England. On July 6, 1944 as a 2nd Lt. on his 27th mission he was shot down over Dreux, France while piloting a P-47. He was captured and incarcerated as a POW for 10 difficult months at Stalag Luft I in Barth, Germany. Mr. Hinckley had completed 100 missions with the US Air Force when he was assigned to the Navy in Coronado, CA spending one year flying Navy aircraft on the USS Kearsarge 33. Following that assignment he returned to the Air Force and served at a variety of Air Force Bases including Paine in Everett, WA, Hamilton Field in San Rafael, CA, Kadena in Okinawa, Robins Field in Macon GA, and finally Shaw in Sumter, South Carolina until his retirement in 1967. He was a Major of the US Air Force at retirement. Mr. Hinckley was a member of the P-47 Thunderbolt Pilots Association, LTD and the New England Genealogical Society. Mr. Hinckley was awarded a number of medals for his service including: the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, Victory Medal, Korea Battle Star, European Theatre of Operation with four battle stars and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. Mr. Hinckley also spent time in the military investigating aircraft accidents. After retirement from the military in 1967 Mr. Hinckley and his family moved to Westford, MA. He served on the Board of Directors of the Arthritis Foundation. He also rode and loved horses and was an avid genealogist spending many years researching his family history. Mr. Hinckley was well known in Westford for riding his bicycle throughout the town and catching up on the local news and sharing his wonderful sense of humor. In addition to his wife, Jane, Mr. Hinckley is survived by a son, Conrad, who teaches English in Beijing, China, four grand children, Emilie, Halley, Russell and Cameron Presnall, of Pepperell, MA, and a brother, Newt Hinckley of Jefferson, Maine and was the father of the late Tracey (Hinckley) Presnall. HINCKLEY Ralph Hinckley, age 88, Visiting hours will take place Thursday, November 29, at the HEALY FUNERAL HOME, 57 N. MAIN ST., WESTFORD from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Service at the United Methodist Church, 10 Church St. Saturday, December 1 at 10:00 a.m. followed by burial in Pine Grove Cemetery, Westford. Friends who wish may make memorial contributions in his name to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. FUNERAL DIRECTOR J. A. HEALY SONS, 57 N.MAIN ST., WESTFORD 978.692.6502