Kenneth L Gilbert
Military ROLL OF HONOURAssigned to the 339th Fighter Group after VE Day, completed 75 missions with the 93rd Bomb Group. Also completed 17 supply missions. He completed his first 25 missions in 29 days. He was killed in an accident over England on July 17, 1945. The remains of the plane were discovered in August 1997. It was excavated by John Harris.
Gilbert's silver wings were found embedded in the fuselage.
Captain Gilbert flew low over the base and at the far western edge of the field the plane went into a half roll for reasons as yet undetermined. The plane struck the ground in this attitude, upside down, destroying the aircraft and killing the pilot.
DFC w/4 Oak Leaf Clusters /Air Medal w/11 Oak Leaf Clusters, Croix de Guerre, Silver Star, PH and 2 Pres. Unit Citations
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Newport, R I | 5 July 1923 | Son of Leo E and Edith Gilbert. |
Enlisted |
Providence, RI, USA | 7 July 1941 | Transferred to USAAC. |
Other Crashed |
Lubbock, TX, USA | 5 April 1943 | Landing Accident Ground Loop Mech Failure Lubbock, TX Cat 3 damage 2Lt Kenneth L Gilbert, 5-Apr-43. AT-17 42-114 - TEFTS LAFS |
Other Crashed |
Morrison Field Rd, West Palm Beach, FL, USA | 22 January 1944 | Taxiing Accident Ground Collision Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, FL Cat 3 damage 2Lt Kenneth L Gilbert, 22-Jan-44. B-24J 42-100433 |
Died |
Fowlmere, Royston SG8, UK | 17 July 1945 | Fatal Crash Fowlmere/Sta 378 Cat 4 damage Capt Kenneth L Gilbert, 17-Jul-45. P-51D 44-14011 - 504FS 339FG 8AF |
Buried |
Interred Arlington National Cemetery | ||
Other Pilot training |
Cuero, TX 77954, USA | Primary flight training - Cuero, Texas - Class 43E | |
Other Pilot training |
North Texas Regional Airport, 4700 Airport Dr, Denison, TX 75020, USA | Basic flight training - Perrin Field, Texas - Class 43E | |
Other Pilot training |
Lubbock, TX 79412, USA | Advanced flight training - Lubbock Field, TX - Class 43E | |
Based |
Hardwick | Assigned to 93BG, 8AF USAAF. | |
Based |
Fowlmere | 17 July 1945 | Assigned to 339FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Enlisted |
Enlisted US Army. |
Revisions
Added Ken Gilbert's name to the Roll of Honour in the American Air Museum.
Sources:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=104303257
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit History for 93rd BG and 339th FG