Sgt Ball was the ball turret gunner on the B-17F #42-5878 "Yankee Eagle" in the 533rd bomber squadron, 381st bombardment group, 8th Air Force operating in Germany. During their 59th mission in Europe, aiming to destroy the German aircraft factories in Oschersleben, Germany the plane was downed. The Yankee Eagle was rammed by an FW-190 between the #1 and #2 engines. The planes exploded, with the Yankee eagle loosing a wing and being engulfed in flames. The planes remains crashed into the country side below, all of this resulting in a total loss of the Yankee Eagle's crew. Sgt Ball is buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neupre, Belgium.