Ralph D. Belanger

Sergeant Ralph Belanger was an Assistant Flight Engineer assigned to the Bockscar’s original crew. He was a member of the 393rd Bombardment Squadron, a segment of the 509th Composite Group.  Before the Nagasaki mission, a mechanical complication forced Major Sweeney and the crew of the Great Artiste to comandeer the Bockscar to carry Fat Man. During the Nagasaki mission, Belanger flew on the Great Artiste, which acted as an observation ship, along with the rest of the original Bockscar crew.