Kenneth F Fahncke
MilitaryTail gunner, Sargent crew. 92nd BG, 327th BS. Shot down 17 August 1943 in B-17 #42-3435. Evaded. EE report 225. Hidden by the Belgian underground along with Sgt Harry Richards from the same crew. Also hidden with Sgt's Moore, Bruzewski, Walters and Kiniklis from the Disbrow crew of the 381st BG, 535th BS. Dr Charles Kramer of Liege, Belgium assisted in hiding these airmen until they could be sent back to England. Went along with S/Sgt Joseph Walters to Spain. Sent to Gibraltar and then England on 20 November 1943.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36171511
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11032285
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: Belgian
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33360602
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
Missions
![Regensburg, after being bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group, 17 August 1943. Official caption on image: "(O-5-1-385)(17-8-43)(30171-6 3/8 - 24,000)(Regensberg)." Passed for publication 6 Sep 1943. Printed caption on reverse: '#44: View of the target.' Censor no: 282458. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413725.jpg.webp?itok=AMwIgGyH)
- Date: 17 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Evaded |
Germany | 17 August 1943 - 20 November 1943 | EE report 225 |
|
Born |
Celina, Ohio, USA |
Revisions
His surname is misspelled. It is Fahncke not Fahnke. This I know because he was my first cousin. My father Paul Fahncke and his father Otto Fahncke were brothers. I met him personally in the 1970’s I was just a kid. His story about being shot down over Belgium has always intrigued me.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 654 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database