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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Major · U.S. Army Air Corps

Ralph Cheli

Major Ralph Cheli, U.S. Army Air Corps, received the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions on August 18, 1943 near Wewak, New Guinea during World War II.

World War II August 18, 1943Posthumous

Serving as an airman in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Major Ralph Cheli was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on August 18, 1943 near Wewak, New Guinea during World War II. At the time he was serving with 405th Bombardment Squadron, 38th Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force. Cheli was 23 years old.

Cheli was born on October 29, 1919 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California. His Medal of Honor is credited to Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. Cheli died on March 6, 1944 in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, at the age of 24. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

Cheli is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ Aviators & Aircrew

Official Medal of Honor citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy. While Maj. Cheli was leading his squadron in a dive to attack the heavily defended Dagua airdrome, intercepting enemy aircraft centered their fire on his plane, causing it to burst into flames while still two miles from the objective. His speed would have enabled him to gain necessary altitude to parachute to safety, but this action would have resulted in his formation becoming disorganized and exposed to the enemy. Although a crash was inevitable, he courageously elected to continue leading the attack in his blazing plane. From a minimum altitude, the squadron made a devastating bombing and strafing attack on the target. The mission completed, Maj. Cheli instructed his wingman to lead the formation and crashed into the sea.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Ralph Cheli received:

Air MedalDistinguished Flying CrossPurple Heart

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War II.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: San Francisco — map
  • Died: Rabaul — map
  • Buried: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. October 29, 1919
    Born in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California
  2. August 18, 1943
    Act of valor — near Wewak, New Guinea
    Age 23. 405th Bombardment Squadron, 38th Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force
  3. March 6, 1944
    Died in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea
    Age 24.
  4. Resting place
    Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
    St. Louis, Missouri

Biography

Ralph Cheli (pronounced "Kelly" ; October 29, 1919 – March 6, 1944) was a major in the United States Army Air Forces and a recipient of the Medal of Honor. He served as the commanding officer of the 405th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) in the Fifth Air Force's 38th Bombardment Group, based at Durand Airfield, Port Moresby, New Guinea. On August 18, 1943, while leading his group of B-25 Mitchells on a low level attack of two Japanese airfields, his bomber was severely damaged. Cheli pressed the attack despite the battle damage, then crash-landed his bomber at sea. He was made a prisoner-of-war and on March 6, 1944, was executed by his captors.

From the Wikipedia article “Ralph Cheli”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

More World War II recipients from New York

CB Carlton William Barrett Private · Army World War II · 1944 John James Powers Lieutenant · Navy World War II · 1942 ✦ Forrest Lee "woody" Vosler Technical Sergeant · Air Force World War II · 1943 Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Brigadier General · Army World War II · 1944 ✦ AC Anthony Casamento Corporal · Marine Corps World War II · 1942 Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV General · Army World War II · 1942
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.