Lawrence John Ritter

Fallen Hero’s Hometown and State: Yonkers, NY

Branch of Service: U.S. Army Air Force

Rank: Captain

Capt. Ritter was inducted into the Army August 1941, then transferred into the Army Air Corps as a Cadet. He shipped out to North Africa on the USS Ranger in January 1943. He was part of the 325th Fighter Group, the Checkertail Clan. He survived all of WWII, and died during a training flight accident near Williamsport, PA.

Ritter had a great sense of humor and always wrote letters home to his family and friends. He was very athletic and smart. He received the Air Medal and had multiple clusters awarded, making him an “Ace” pilot.

Within eight months, in North Africa during WWII, he was credited with multiple downed enemy aircrafts and earned promotions to 1st Lieutenant, and then to Captain just short of one year later. By the end of his first tour overseas, he had flown 55 combat missions; an Ace Pilot who participated in the North African Campaign and European Theater of Operations.

Age: 26

Date of Death: April 26, 1946