Ernie Pratt was born in Soldier Kentucky in March of 1925. In 1943 after graduation from high school in Detroit Michigan he joined the U.S. Army Air Force as an Airman Cadet. During his training in 1944 the AAF decided they had enough pilots resulting in his being diverted to gunnery school. Upon completion of training in early 1945 and now a member of the 463rd Bomb Group/15th Air Force, his Squadron, the 773rd, spent the month of March flying the northern route from Savannah Georgia to Celone Airfield in Foggia Italy.

On April 25th 1945 the 463rd Bomb Group flew the 15th Air Force's last bombing mission of World War II out of Celone Airfield. It was Ernie's third mission as a waist gunner. Flying in B-17 tail number 44-6881, the mission target was the main railroad marshalling yards in Linz Austria. His first two missions in -881 had been milk runs but this mission decidedly was not. Upon returning, the aircraft looked like a sieve, including a five inch diameter hole through the right wing caused by an unexploded shell. On May 1st Ernie was extremely glad to find out this was his, as well as the 15th Air Force's, last mission of the war.

After the war Ernie Pratt married, raised three children and worked as a Real Property Agent. He spent his last 57 years living in Santa Barbara California where, in February of 2022, he passed away at the age of 96.