Kenneth Allison Lemmons

Military
media-35055.jpeg UPL 35055 Ken Lemmons, Crew Chief of Skipper II, working on his aircraft.

His skills enabled Skipper II to complete more than 100 missions.

From his Daughter Michelle Lemmons Walker.

Object Number - UPL 35055 - Ken Lemmons, Crew Chief of Skipper II, working on his aircraft. His skills enabled Skipper II to complete more than 100 missions.

Master Sergeant Ken Lemmons was a crew chief with the original cadre of 100th BG crews. He maintained "Picadilly Lily, "Mason-Dixon", "She has-ta", "King Bee", "SKipper II" and "Boeing Belle". His skills enabled Skipper II to complete more than 100 missions.

M/Sgt Ken Lemmons is portrayed by Raff Law in Apple's Masters of the Air (2024).

Biography

Lemmons was born on 29th December 1922 in northeast Arkans. Having learnt the mechanical trade from general farm work, Ken volunteered for the military on Dec. 15, shortly after Pearl Harbor. After training, Ken married his childhood sweetheart, Fonda Ragan. A short time later he became one of the first crew chiefs to be assigned to the 100th Bomb Group. He served with the 351st Squadron as ground chief from 1943 until 1945. 

Lemmons was the subject of a 1999 book by Cindy Goodman and Jan Riddling, historians of the 100th Bomb Group, named "The Forgotten Man".

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

42-31708

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Skipper II

Revisions

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ContributorHattie
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ContributorRayWells
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Michelle Lemmons Walker

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

100th Bomb Group Foundation Directory, 2000 - 2001 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Kenneth Allison Lemmons: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 35055 - Ken Lemmons, Crew Chief of Skipper II, working on...