Ronald Gene Sorensen was born on 25 February 1920 to Ronald and Alice Telford Sorenson of Grace, Idaho.
Five years later, Ronald’s sister, Mavis, was born.
The family lived in Idaho through their children’s school years. Later in their marriage, Ronald and Alice lived in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He graduated from Grace High School. He attended the University of Idaho at its southern branch in Pocatello.
Sorensen entered as a private with the Idaho National Guard on or about 1 April 1941 and first trained with field artillery.
He went on active duty with the 183rd Field Artillery in March 1941. But his military aspirations changed.
In May 1943, he transferred to the United States Army Air Forces for bombardier training at Fort Warren, Wyoming and Fort Lewis, Washington.
He received his commission as Second Lieutenant at Big Springs, Texas, 7 October 1943.
2LT Sorensen was attached to the 721st Bomber Squadron.
B-24H, #41-28929, took off as part of a formation from Manduria, Italy at 0753 in clear conditions.
The formation’s destination was the railway marshalling yards, Brasov, Romania. The bombing run was successful, hitting most of its predetermined targets. The B-24H, still in formation among two groups, began its homeward run.
However, Messerschmitt (ME-109) and Fock-Wulffs (FK-190) fighters attacked in force as soon as the bombers cleared the target area. The B-24H was one of two bombers hit by anti-aircraft fire.
In the MACR #4033, multiple witnesses reported that #41-28929 was hit by enemy aircraft and seen to spiral downward in flames. Eight of 10 crewmen parachuted from the plane, leaving 2LT. Jack E Dyer, pilot, and navigator aboard in an effort to land. But the #41-28929 crashed and its two crewmen were killed at 1129 hours.
The remaining eight individuals, among them 2LT Sorensen, did not survive escape from the plane and were listed as killed in action. 2LT Ronald Gene Sorenson was 24 years old.
His body was recovered for return to Idaho for burial. Awarded the Air Medal, Sorenson was interred at Grace Cemetery, Grace, Idaho on 21 July 1944. He was survived by his parents and sister.
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